This article focuses on the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway is now suffering consequences of climate warming. The road, which was originally constructed in 1942 as an order of President Roosevelt as a supply road, is facing many challenges due to melting permafrost beneath the pavement. In addition to the heating caused by climate change, the black pavement itself absorbs heat, speeding up the melting process. This road has become very important to the people of Alaska, due to the fact that it is one of the main reasons for the colonization of Yukon and is a very important route for transporting goods to the population of 24,000. The article also talks about how the government is attempting to overcome these obstacles.
New York Times Article on the Alaska Highway
More often you hear about climate change impeding migratory paths of fish or birds. I don't remember reading another case of human routes becoming jeopardized by the loss of permafrost. The fact that the locals became dependent on infrastructure originally provided for another purpose is in some ways the inverse of Native Americans losing access to their ceremonial fishing grounds surrounding the Elwha discussed in class. Here the environment is throwing off man-made construction but the community that relies on it will likely suffer as a result. Interesting article.
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