EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS IN THE ALASKA TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS

Based on observations made by modern seismographic networks since 1967, and taking into consideration historical records of large Alaskan earthquakes in the past, it is judged that the hazards faced by transportation corridors in different areas of the state increase in approximately the following order: (1) the Circle area, including the Steese and Elliott Highways, which contains a portion of the Tintina fault, now largely dormant; (2) The Rampart seismic zone, in which notable historic seismic activity occurred only in 1968 and 1969, but which contains the Yukon River bridge, a portion of the Dalton Highway, Manley Hot Springs Road, and Tanana; (3) The Glennallen area, bisected by the Castle Mountain fault. This zone includes the southern Richardson Highway and portions of the Border Ranges fault system; (4) The Cantwell area. This segment contains the Central Parks Highway and the Denali Highway. The principal tectonic element is the central portion of the Denali fault; (5) The Fairbanks area, an active seismic zone containing the northern Richardson and northern Parks Highways. This area contains an almost continually active area extending from near Harding Lake to Fox; (6) The Valdez area, with the southernmost section of the Richardson Highway and the Edgerton Highway. This segment contains the epicentral area of the great earthquake of 1964, the Chugach Mountains, and portions of the Border Ranges fault system; (7) The Kenai area. The Kenai Peninsula, with the Seward Highway and the peninsular road net is highly seismically active and overlies an active subduction zone; (8) The Talkeetna area, which contains Anchorage, Palmer and the southern Parks Highway. It is not unlikely that this will be the site of the Alaska mainland's next major earthquake.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_83_30.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/14690
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  Division of Planning and Programming, 2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701
• Authors:
  • Gedney, L D
  • Estes, S A
  • Marshall, D L
• Publication Date: 1983-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 61 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Earthquakes; Faults; Hazards; Transportation corridors
• Old TRIS Terms: Fault zones
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Terminals and Facilities; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382218
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-83-30 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTL, TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM