Page 84 - Richardson And Glenn Highways (East Alaska)

VALDEZ
PORT TOWN The ice-free port of Valdez allows for
tankerand ferrytraffic.
The Alyeska (or Trans-Alaska) Pipeline carries less oil today, but over the last 40 years has trans- ported over 17 billion barrels of crude oil to Val- dez. Road travelers can glimpse the Pipeline from the Richardson Highway as they drive through Thompson Pass into Valdez. Building the Pipeline was a daunting task that brought many laborers north. When the Pipeline was completed in 1977, former workers who took a liking to Alaska de- cided to settle down in small towns around the state. The Valdez population grew as a direct re- sult ofthe Pipeline construction.
The infrastructure created by the Alyeska Pipeline is the most lasting economic influence Alaska has experienced. The Pipeline permanently changed Alaska due to the taxes levied on oil, allowing state spending to increase beyond its once mea- ger allowance.
Ferry Terminal
From Valdez, you can take the Alaska Ferry to Whittier (near Anchorage), Cordova, and points beyond. Check the schedule online before you book, and be aware of route changes. Or, you can walk into the terminal office and talk to the staff.
PORTTOWN