Elliott Highway

Route description

The highway is paved and in generally good condition year-round between Fairbanks and the junction with the Dalton Highway, but reverts to an unpaved road for the final 80 miles (130 km) to Manley Hot Springs. This portion of the road, particularly in winter, can be very challenging to navigate due to overflow of ice and water on the road, high-wind areas, and drifting snow. There is no cellular telephone service available on the Elliott Highway, though there is fuel available in Minto, and traffic, particularly past the Dalton Highway cutoff, can be extremely sparse. Travelers are advised to check road conditions before traveling this road through the state transportation hotline at [1]. Travelers should always carry emergency supplies and fuel enough for 400 miles (640 km) when driving this highway.

Near Manley Hot Springs there is a 50-mile side road to Tanana over Tofty. This road was built 2014-2016 for a cost of $13 million. The road ends on the south side of the Yukon River, so a boat trip or an ice road is also needed to reach Tanana.

Minto is also served by a side road off the main highway called Old Minto Road. The Dalton Highway begins 73 miles (118 km) north of Fox at its junction with the Elliott Highway.

Future

A 500-mile (800 km) road project (Manley Hot Springs–Nome) is being discussed in Alaska. It has been estimated (in 2010) to cost $2.3–2.7 billion, or approximately $5 million per mile.

The road to Nome has received hesitation because of the cost. Former governor Sean Parnell wanted, as a beginning, to build a road from Manley Hot Springs to Tanana, around 35 miles length, and a detailed study was being made during 2012 The road to Tanana was opened in 2016. It ends at the Yukon River. Any continuation would require a fairly expensive bridge to be built.

Junction list

See the article on Alaska Route 2 for an updated major intersections list.