The state of Alaska plans to replace the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge on the Alaska Highway while preserving a portion of the structure as a tribute to the workers who helped build the road more than eight decades ago, officials announced.
The existing bridge, which was completed in 1943 as part of the Alaska Highway construction effort during World War II, has deteriorated over time and no longer meets modern safety and traffic requirements, Alaska Department of Transportation engineers said. The replacement project is intended to improve travel reliability and accommodate increasing commercial and military vehicle traffic along the vital corridor connecting Alaska with the Lower 48.
To honor the legacy of the original highway builders, including Black U.S. Army engineers and laborers whose contributions have often been overlooked, the state will preserve a section of the historic bridge as a memorial component of the new design. The preserved segment will be featured at a roadside overlook with interpretive signage detailing the history of the Alaska Highway and the diverse workforce that constructed it under challenging conditions.
Transportation officials said the bridge replacement project remains in preliminary planning, with environmental reviews and design work underway. Construction is expected to begin within the next few years, with efforts made to minimize disruptions to traffic and freight movement during the transition.
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The Black Veterans Memorial Bridge was named to recognize the service of Black soldiers who played a critical role in building the Alaska Highway, a 1,700-mile supply route that was constructed in under nine months to connect the Alaska Territory with the continental United States during the war. The state’s decision to preserve part of the original bridge structure reflects broader efforts to commemorate historically significant contributions to Alaska’s infrastructure and cultural heritage.
