Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is a 2.5-mile combined road and rail tunnel through Maynard Mountain that links Whittier with the Alaska Railroad and the highway system. It is named for Anton Anderson, the Army engineer who led construction of the railroad spur to Whittier in the 1940s.[1]

Railroad origins

The U.S. Army began building a railroad spur from Whittier to Portage in 1941, and it became Alaska’s main supply link for the war effort. Whittier was chosen as a rail port because it offered a shorter sea voyage, less exposure to Japanese submarines, and less risk of bombing in its weather, and because it avoided steep grades over the Kenai Mountains. Workers completed the spur on 23 April 1943, linking Whittier to the Alaska Railroad’s main line at Portage.[1]

Conversion to road

From the mid-1960s the Alaska Railroad ran a shuttle carrying vehicles on flat cars between Portage and Whittier, but demand exceeded its capacity. After studying several options, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities chose to build a highway to Maynard Mountain and convert the railroad tunnel into a shared tunnel. The Federal Highway Administration approved the environmental impact statement in November 1995, the design-build contract was awarded in June 1998 and construction began in September 1998.[1]

Operation

The tunnel is one lane for combined highway and rail traffic, so cars and trains take turns passing through it. A separate 1-mile railroad tunnel runs through Begich Peak. The highway approach runs 1.5 miles from the Portage Glacier Highway to the Bear Valley staging area.[1]

Engineering

HDR Alaska prepared the environmental impact statement and conceptual design, and CH2M Hill designed the approaches and bridges. Herndon and Thompson built the approach project, and Kiewit Construction won the tunnel contract, with Hatch Mott MacDonald designing the tunnel. The state describes the facility as meeting all safety requirements.[1]

FAQs

How long is the tunnel? 2.5 miles through Maynard Mountain.

Who is it named for? Anton Anderson, the Army engineer who led construction of the Whittier spur.

Can cars and trains use it at the same time? No, it is one lane and they take turns.

Why was Whittier chosen as a rail port? It shortened the sea voyage, reduced exposure to submarines and bombing, and avoided steep grades.

Sources

1. Alaska DOT&PF: Whittier Tunnel: History

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 13, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue