George Parks Highway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Parks Highway, Robert J. Mitchell Expressway

Length:

323 mi (520 km)

South end:

Glenn Hwy. near Palmer

North end:

Richardson Hwy./Steese Hwy. in Fairbanks

Alaska Routes
< AK-2		AK-4 >

The George Parks Highway (numbered Alaska Route 3), usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles (520 km) from the Glenn Highway 35 miles (56 km) north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interior. The highway, originally known as the Anchorage-Fairbanks Highway, was completed in 1971, and given its current name in 1975.

The highway, which mostly parallels the Alaska Railroad, is one of the most important roads in Alaska. It is the main route between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska's two largest cities, the principal access to Denali National Park and Preserve and Denali State Park, and the main highway in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

It is a common misconception that the name "Parks Highway" comes from the road's proximity to the Denali state and national parks; it is in fact in honor of George Alexander Parks, governor of the Territory of Alaska from 1925 to 1933. However, the aptness of the name was recognized when it was chosen.

Mileposts along the Parks Highway do not begin with 0 (zero). Instead, they begin with Mile 35 (km 56), continuing the milepost numbering of the Glenn Highway where the two highways intersect near Palmer. The 0 (zero) mile marker for the Glenn Highway is at its terminus in downtown Anchorage at the intersection of East 5th Avenue and Gambell Street. Thus mileposts along the Parks Highway reflect distance from Anchorage, which is not actually on the Parks Highway.

There are two sections of the highway that are built to freeway standards. These include an area near the highway's intersection with the Glenn Highway in Palmer and a stretch near the highway's junction with Alaska Route 2 near Fairbanks.

[edit] Exit list

Exits in Alaska are not numbered.

Milepost	Street	Notes
35.0	Traffic Is Directed Onto Glenn Hwy South
35.0	Glenn Hwy North	Southbound Only
35.92	Matanuska Rd.
37.58	N. Hyer Road
38.66	Palmer Section Of Freeway Ends
352.65	Fairbanks Section Of Freeway Begins
352.65	Geist Road
353.81	Airport Road
Gap In Freeway
354.73	University Ave. South
356.94	Peger Rd.
357.95	Lathrop St.
Freeway Resumes
358.0	Steese Hwy N.	Northbound Only
358.0	Traffic Directed Onto Richardson Hwy S.