Building the Alaska Highway!!

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Little Jo

I wonder if there is a similar film made of the construction of the road from Alice Springs to Darwin by USA troops during WW2.

Hi Tony,

The track from Alice to Darwin was constructed before the US entered the war, I was on the Back to the Track re-enactment in 1995 and learnt a lot about this. There are couple of good books covering the army convoys, one being The Long Road North, by Alex Tanner.

[Lang]

Tony,

As Richard says, the Alice Springs road was commenced prior to the war and upgraded constantly during the early years (it was nearly all sealed by the end of the war). The construction was carried out under contract to the Federal Government by various State works departments.

On the other hand the US Army Engineers were responsible for the east west Barkly Highway from Mount Isa to Tennant Creek where it joined the Alice Springs to Darwin Road.

Lang

[Little Jo]

Richard - Lang

Thanks for the correct information. Funny how you go through life listening to people who tell you a story and it seems to stick. I have always been told the yanks built the road and it just stuck. I think I will now take my foot out of my mouth.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Tony