In 1968, a decision was made to construct a winter haul road to the Arctic Slope. The Dept. of Highways Commissioner called for bids and when all came in too high, the department made plans to construct it with state forces.

The “Haul Road,” as it is known to Alaskans, was officially named the Walter J. Hickel Highway. It was completed on March 12, 1969.

[NOTE: The following scanned report was included with the photographs. The author is unknown. The map mentioned was not found.]

HISTORY OF WALTER J. HICKEL HIGHWAY (Route of highway shown in purple on map)

On October 31, 1968, in Fairbanks, some of the representatives of the Alaska Carriers Association and some legislators met with the Commissioner of the Department of Highways, Fairbanks district highway engineer as to the construction of the winter haul road to the- Arctic Slope. Following this, another meeting with the Commissioner of Highways, the Governor and his staff, and the Commissioner of Public Works, and some of the legislators was held and as a result of this meeting the decision was made to proceed with the road and to poll the legislature on the supplemental appropriation to the Department of Highways for funds to accomplish the work.

On Monday, November 18, 1968, the Commissioner of Highways went to Fairbanks to determine the basis for a proposal with which to ask bids and to decide how best to proceed. In a conference with the Fairbanks engineer and his staff it was determined that the State would proceed with its own forces to construct the section of the road between Livengood and Stevens Village and the ice bridges across the Yukon River, the south fork of the Koyukuk River at Bettles. Also, it was determined that the only basis upon which the Department of Highways could ask for bids was to make- our best estimate of the equipment time needed to accomplish the work from Stevens Village to Sagwon and to ask for bids on this basis.

The Commissioner of Highways returned from this meeting on the evening of November 20 to finalize the proposal. On November 21 a conference was held in the Governor's office prior to advertising. The decision to proceed was made and the invitation for bids was completed on this date. On November 22 the project was released for advertising with bids to be taken on December 12. The Fairbanks Highways district was authorized, on this date, to proceed title the work from Livengood in, with the work on the ice bridges. November 25 the first advertising appeared in the newspapers and work began by the State forces at Livengood. Work began on the ice bridge at Stevens Village on November 29.

On December 10 bids were opened in the Fairbanks district engineer's office and six bids were received as follows:

S & B Construction Company - $127,750 Anchorage Paving Company - $237,400 Burgess Construction - $283,000 Tundra Construction - $313,500 Great Northern Equipment Company - $341,000 Braund, Inc. - $347,500

On December 12 by a telephone call from their attorney S & B withdrew their bid. Since no bidder's bond was required in the proposal this was allowed. The lowest responsible bidder then under consideration for the work was the Anchorage Asphalt and Paving Company with a bid of $237,400. On December 21 work was completed on the road to Stevens Village and the Yukon crossing itself.

The State's estimated cost for the entire project was as follows:

Preliminary engineering $29,000 Mobilization - $25,000 Livengood to Stevens Village construction $50,000 Ice bridges - $40,000 Stevens Village to Sagwon construction - $144,400 Contingencies - $61,600 Total - $350,000

At that time the following amounts had been expended on work to the point:

Engineering - $25,000 Mobilization - $22,000 Livengood to Stevens Village construction - $50,000 Ice bridges - $28,000 Total - $125,000 approximately

It was estimated that the cost to the State for supervising the contract, should it be awarded, would be approximately $12,000. The cost of the contract as bid with no contingency whatsoever was $237,000. Therefore we would have had a total cost, without benefit of contingency, of approximately $374,000 which, of course, is in excess of the amount of funds anticipated for the work. Due to the experience that would be gained during the construction of the road from Livengood to Stevens Village, it was indicated that our estimate for the equipment time necessary to do the work from Stevens Village to Sagwon was low. Therefore we anticipated further overrun, even above the $374,000.

On the basis of these facts and judgment, the decision was made to reject the bids and proceed with the work with State forces. This decision was made on December 23 and the district highway engineer in Fairbanks was notified by the Commissioner of Highways to proceed.

On December 24 a record cold spell started in the Fairbanks and Fairbanks north areas. This cold spell precluded any work until 2 A.M. January 14, 1969. During this period the average temperature was 63.5 degrees below zero. There were four days during which the temperature was below 70 degrees and the coldest day recorded was -75 degrees. Due to the experience of the Highway Department in the section from Livengood to Stevens Village, it was determined that the construction equipment to be used on the section from Stevens Village to Sagwon must be in new condition. The Department of Highways had had the experience of extensive repairs becoming necessary on the used equipment that was being utilized on the section from Livengood to Stevens Village. With the long supply line from Stevens Village north, as little repair as possible was determined to be a necessity. Therefore the decision was made to acquire by rental agreement three new bulldozers for construction work north of Stevens Village. The Fairbanks district contacted 12 potential suppliers by telephone to determine what equipment was available. As a result of this telephone survey 7 potential suppliers were furnished requests for informal quotations and quotations were received from three suppliers. The low bid was accepted and felt in the best interests of the State and the. equipment was so ordered. Work proceeded on January 14 when the temperature rose to minus 50 degrees. Work was completed to Bettles on January 26. Equipment was overhauled at the Bettles shop, which is operated by the Division of Aviation at Bettles, and on the beginning of January 30 the work resumed north of Bettles, proceeding to Anaktuvuk Pass then on to Sagwon.

The construction of the Walter J. Hickel Highways was completed March 12 with the section from Livengood to Stevens Village, by 15 men and 26 working days. from Stevens Village to Sagwon was completed by 22 men and 58 working days. In addition to these men, on the project was the Fairbanks district administrative staff for logistical support.

The final day the total amount of loads hauled over the ice road was 343 for a tonnage of 6,078. The number of pieces of equipment loaded was 139 with a net tonnage of 1,386 for a combined total net tonnage of 7,464. Using this as an estimate for a total for four months usage next year, we would then have a total of roughly 30,000 tons. It also must be noted that highway user tax generated by this activity over a three-year period will amount to roughly around $75,000. Also, the increased motor vehicle license fee and the business license fee and general increased economic activity will serve as an additional economic factor, as well as the timber development in the south fork of the Koyukuk and the possibility of more prospecting being done by individuals and companies because of their ability to freight in their supplies and heavy equipment in the winter, whereas before everything has been air-lifted in and could only be of a small nature because of the length of the air strip at Bettles.

It should be noted there were only three, minor accidents during the construction of the winter ice road.

In order to develop the Walter J. Hickel Highway for next season, it was requested that maintenance work be done this summer and winter. This will require seven maintenance camps located at Livengood, Dahl Mountain, Bettles, Crevice Creek, Anaktuvuk Pass, Half Way, and Sagwon. Approximately 20 maintenance personnel will be required to staff these camps for 4-1/2 months at a cost of $154,000. Subsistence costs for food and lodging, airfreight, and travel will cost $70,500. Contractual services, including equipment rental, ice bridge construction, and miscellaneous will cost $161,400. Commodities, including fuel for camps and excess freight, and the cost of fuel for equipment will be $47,000, for a total cost of this operation of $433,400.

Capital improvement is anticipated to be about $441,000.

It is desirable to perform some of the work in selected locations along the route during the summer months after the frost has gone out. This will involve some side hill cutting along the Johns River between Crevice Creek and Anaktuvuk Pass, rerouting the Nine Mile Hills north of Bettles. It is felt certain that this work will more than pay for itself. The total cost for this summer maintenance is approximately $167,100. Capital equipment is necessary to provide for housing and facilities for the winter operation, warm storage and equipment to accomplish the work.