Kiskatinaw Bridge

The Alaska Canada Highway began construction in 1942 and was completed in just 8 months and 12 days. It was a remarkable feat given the weather conditions, the engineering challenges of the terrain and the difficulty of re-suppling the work crews with equipment and food. The crews worked 7 days a week, in very harsh conditions to complete the road by October 25th, 1942. Even though all that effort was incredible, the road was not deemed fit for significant freight transport at the time, the frost heaves and hasty grading left the path too rough. It was still a connection though and provided an important strategic route for the military support of Alaska during WWII.

All the unpaved portions of the road were rerouted and paved between 1980 and 1992. The highway has been improved and now provides passing lanes and has converted to kilometer markings, but Mile 0 remains at the beginning of the road in Dawson Creek.

If you take a jog off the new highway about 30 KM outside of Dawson Creek, you can still drive the old highway and experience the original rough road conditions on a visit to the old Kiskatinaw River Bridge. This curved bridge is the last remaining wooden bridge from the original road construction still in use. You cannot drive on the bridge, but you can walk over it. The smell of creosote wafting up from its well-worn timbers evokes a faded whisp of memory you can’t quite put your finger on, perhaps because it belonged to someone else.

The Kiskatinaw River presented one of the major engineering challenges for the construction teams due to the shape of the river valley. The bridge was designed on a curve with a 9 percent grade to accommodate the unique landscape connecting the lower west bank to a notch in the cliff of the higher east bank. It was the first curved wooden bridge ever built in Canada.

We often take for granted the marvelous highway systems that connect us so easily today. Our Ramblin Van for instance, has traveled over 10,000 highway miles in just 6 weeks on our current journey. Visiting this bridge reminds us that it wasn’t always so easy. We owe a debt of gratitude to those clever and hardworking folks who literally paved the way for us.

 Hats off,