Pipeline History
On November 16, 1973, through Presidential approval of pipeline legilation, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company received
permission to begin construction of the 800-mile trans Alaska pipeline, its pump stations and the Marine Terminal at
Valdez. The 360-mile road from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay was built, and construction of the Valdez Terminal was
begun in 1974.At the same time, work started on pump stations and the pipeline work pad.
The lengths of pipe were placed under the Tonsina River in March of 1975. Barely two years later-by March of 1977- all
pipe had been installed; and pump stations, the Terminal and essential communications systems were almost completed.
The first oil entered the line at Prudhoe Bay June 20, 1977 and reached Valdez on July 28. On August 1, 1977, the first
tanker load of North Slope oil left the Port of Valdez aboard the ARCO Juneau.
Pipeline
Facts
Length : 800 miles
Construction Period :
1974-1977
Pipe Specifications:
diameter 48"
minimum yeild strengths 60,000,
65,000,& 70,000 psi
wall thickness .462 inch & .582 inch
insulated with 4" fiberglass, factory-bonded to
galvanized steel jacketing
Capacity of filled pipeline 9 million barrels
Animal Crossings:
554, specially built
River and Stream Crossing:
34 major, 800 others
Mountain Ranges Crossed:
Brooks Range
Alaska Range
Chugach Range
Marker can be reached from Steese Highway (at milepost 8.4), on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
