construction trans alaska pipeline system construction included miles oil pipeline pump stations new tanker port built largely alaska billion effort required tens thousands people working extreme temperatures conditions invention specialized construction techniques construction new road highway section pipe laid years legal political arguments allegations faulty drew intense scrutiny local national observers culture grew unique working conditions involved constructing pipeline union worked project different function stereotype thirty employees contract workers killed project main construction effort lasted barrel oil delivered july year pump stations added oil flow increased completed survey design intensive geological sampling survey work pipeline route started spring aerial photograph taken examined preliminary route detailed small survey parties physically visited route stakes ground work difficult animal dangers forced crews armed cope remote area limited infrastructure places foliage dense trees cut progress limited feet day surveyed route passed mountain passes pass pass location cliffs order perform work planners deal major cause earthquakes large amounts unincorporated group series core samples north demonstrated route forced design elevated pipeline tested feet loop built near elevation required pipeline extreme cold temperatures caused metal hot oil pumped pipeline ecological objections forced subterranean pipeline crossings order allow cross engineers developed system ground near pipeline sections placed lined trenches covered gravel value altogether miles pipeline designed built underground way places lack meant simply placed underground special plant large amounts gravel needed sections pipeline heat ground structures melting gravel needed build construction maintenance road located sites alaska needed cubic yards gravel located pipeline authorization act required pipeline able withstand maximum earthquake recorded area built crossing coated designed allow pipeline earthquake protect forward backward allow thermal expansion pipeline wasn designed straight line instead intended laid shape bends allow expansion movement breaking pipeline built pipes holding raised sections pipeline contained sealed tube pipeline heat rises cooled outside air falls tube process repeats surveyed route crossed hundreds streams rivers cross pipeline engineers designed concrete jackets surround pipe weight sink stream river oil lighter water pipeline float concrete jackets rivers burying pipeline allowed environmental concerns places fear disturbing river river characteristics pipeline bridges constructed notable protect wet environments pipeline designed protection terms spill prevention pipeline designed way oil moving ahead leak hole certain point computer aided leak detection features pipeline designed leak instantly detected loss pressure pump stations sound alarm halt flow oil quickly proposed pipeline scheduled start capacity million barrels day capacity expanded million barrels day years million barrels day time oil scrapped plans intended pipeline built initial capacity million barrels day required pumping stations instead ready greatly increasing manpower required southern end pipeline planned site port proper initial studies predicted bedrock feet surface ground excavation began discovered bedrock actually feet requiring removal cubic yards terminal designed built tanker space fifth necessary holding tanks planned capacity equal pipeline allowing pipeline emptied required required pipeline authorization act ballast water system designed system removes oil ballast water released fishermen feared pipeline proposed preparation shortly permit signed convoys equipment snow began heading north hardened snow roads ice bridge reach seven construction camps dormant days mid january time snow ice melted mid april workers moved short tons seven camps built camps temporary february ice bridge snow road carrying tracked vehicles north awarded contract design construction maintenance road inc firm pennsylvania awarded contract cross state alaska designed bridge paid thirds cost remaining paid bridge built april contracts build road picked total new highway cost million build companies shared cost construction started april peak effort workers deployed massive created supply road construction effort flights day total required road finished september days mile gravel road built final grading small permanent bridges built november road open traffic crossing ice bridge management supervise construction pipeline appointed construction management contractors oversee project san_francisco named management contractor pipeline division named management contractor pumping stations complex single section pipeline involved transfer oil pipeline oil companies actually construction work job handed series responsibility sections pipeline seven marine terminal included bidding jobs opened end march contracts announced june section ran miles pipeline camp division given contract section covered miles north joint venture section covered miles past contract section given group formed usually known section miles south contracted group formed group main contractors construction highway section covered distance pipeline camp section went sections covered miles supervision venture inc supervision work divided contractors site preparation work built tank farms tanker built venture general_electric pipes supervision construction pumping stations generally built contractors working specific section pipeline pipeline camps contracts announced pipeline construction camps built construction camps north camps built entire length project planned construction camps created seven built pipeline south built pump stations length route camps built thick beds gravel laid underlying prevent pollution conclusion construction project gravel removed theoretically removing oil leaks pollution atop gravel buildings flown site highway standardized structures house people typically create wings story pump station camps laid atop space concerns addition gravel buildings utility raised ground avoid heating camps housed people pump station people typical pump station camp cost million build typical mainline camps cost million build camps beds workers collectively referred city workers came fact city miles long feet wide overall construction headquarters fort near leased land buildings vacant barracks converted housing vacant offices given oil workers air traffic increased arranged use fort airfield relieve burden international airport camp use buildings workers built entirely labor construction united_states large pipeline drew workers country workers follow strict hiring process based union labor needed priority given hiring alaska residents strikes permitted labor agreement unions exchange restrictions workers paid extremely received fringe benefits according labor contract worker guaranteed hours pay week weather work impossible addition cost plus contracts incentive levels low factors led people assigned job work attempt time lost weather delays peak construction fall people working pipeline fourteen percent workers minorities percent women high turnover project people worked pipeline worked pipeline came oklahoma specialized providing large scale pipeline projects members performed pipeline including pump stations work highest paid workers pipeline normal rate hour hired pipeline project intensive certification process involved series test failed test hired allowed try weeks characterized southern accent cowboy boots unique hats people inch pipe main pipeline outside observers characterized arrogant fellow stated time typical pipeline feed drinks probably tell god greatest gift attitude generated resentment pipeline workers conflict caused large scale instances flown pipeline camps order break small riots end pipeline project series produced slogan happiness going south arm far largest notable contributor workers pipeline project worked transportation supply aspects project trucks driven supply warehouses run buses transported workers camps job sites run local employees peak far dominant labor force pipeline project frequent allegations corruption project won pulitzer prize series rise local influence state politics repeated allegations links organized crime backed evidence leaders murdered investigating drug activity pipeline project workers strongly denied involvement organized crime pointed fact percent project college degrees professional management experience control tools equipment warehouses ran led conflicts workers instances assaulted workers unions instances position extract concessions forbidden striking allowed halt work safety meetings excuse handful occasions notable february series truck accidents connected newly built upgraded drive trucks hauling feet pipe attempts upgrade road rebuffed leader stopped truck traffic state days safety meetings state promised upgrades road traffic resumed operators called operators short represented men women sat controls heavy equipment construction pipeline equipment included cranes drilling cross crane lay section pipe trench parallel tracks heavy equipment operators typically assigned piece equipment allowing frequent breaks popular joke pipeline sole qualification operator able sit freeze seriously wrote terrifying trench drunken operator handling pipe laid trench laborers represented bulk skilled labor project laborers commonly known odd jobs project digging trenches areas inaccessible heavy equipment drilling holes pipeline vertical spreading gravel crushing rock moving supplies hand laborers local prominent laborers group project special skills required jobs filled attracted people came alaska specifically pipeline project people simply looking easiest way possible getting day laborers applicants jobs available process getting job pipeline laborers local multi process multiple levels eligibility based person level members pick jobs worked hours union previous year level members worked hours union level members years experience outside alaska alaska resident year level level people rarely got jobs didn stop people trying january shortly pipeline right way signed people spent night outside office waiting choice jobs office opened pipeline life life pipeline construction project characterized long hours poor conditions limited entertainment compensated excellent benefits pay worker handed small booklet camp rules rules including alcohol smoking frequently broken target humor living quarters atmosphere resembled college dormitory laundry services provided quarters small little entertainment available television broadcasts delayed days need fly tapes california workers develop forms entertainment winter took skiing summer went hiking general little time available recreation long hours worked people years project workers regularly treated prime rib exotic fare cost plus contract food later years cost plus contracts replaced institutional cooking box common food project prized workers soon haul road later named highway built food overtime unions changed highway construction charged federal state governments supposed cost plus nights times week australian rock tails disappeared union overtime sundays changed double time time half completion haul road workers pay averaged hour depending position averaging hours week problem workers extra money typical worker wrote money magazine asking advice detailed pay rate year time members congress earned annually professional football players averaged vice president earned large amounts money pipeline camps lack entertainment caused frequent gambling games involved tens thousands dollars instead gambling workers saved money hawaii warm climates returned work money remaining laying pipe section pipeline laid march foot sections pipe coated concrete prior ceremony mounted cranes lifted feet pipe laid trench dug perpendicular filled exposed trench gravel restoring river original process repeated miles south pipeline crossed end april feet elevated pipeline built area year set goal completing percent mile route laid straight line expected river crossings longer complete portions pipeline dry land work pumping stations begun fall expected longer laying pipe conversely work projects proceed winter place frozen ground laying pipe took stages right way cleared followed rough route laid initial crews followed group engineers determined pipeline laid planned spot moved soft ground considerations state federal surveillance officers working engineers path pipeline feet right left order avoid obstacles path finalized came holes served foundations vertical support members held pipe holes filled mix water gravel dirt dropped hole frozen ground gravel dirt hard concrete sealing place laid parallel time rest pipeline segments carried foot foot segments crane appropriate location lowered place inspected ray quality control engineers followed construction progressed management engineer worked projects singapore construction system prior named senior project manager known work ethic hard driving style said person office leave end day engineering news record reported demands total dedication saying wife baby named construction industry man year spur progress pipeline started contractors working pipeline compared based share completed time biggest decision canceled contract management contractor felt company adding bureaucracy pipeline contractors historian later called decision defeats history october snow cold weather brought pipeline laying halt year employment rose workers spring summer christmas estimated pipeline laying percent complete miles pipeline place work pump stations project percent complete pumps speeding construction winter pronounced dissatisfied progress promised improvements learned awful lot year pull operation didn organization set july wasn working effectiveness october advantage effectiveness set ambitious goal construction expecting line installed tested november said january goal ambitious work point flat terrain left tackle difficult construction projects areas eat cake year said winter shut right way work pump stations continued stop pump station temperatures reached lower work continued pump station origin point main pipeline process lines coming oil wells pump station camp population workers winter peak summer workers controversy weather warmed work resumed main pipeline administrators distracted controversy pipeline previous year september employee filed suit company alleging laid participate conspiracy quality control rays pipeline trans alaska pipeline unique pipeline projects point required main pipeline verified time consuming process quality control procedures continually end terminated contract took responsibility analyzing rays controversy continued lawsuit moved forward manager found dead poisoning photographs stolen pump station construction camp began review submitted report april submitted technical analysis report repair work way review produced list questionable percent work reported half minor affect running pipeline questions lay thousand dangerous examining extremely difficult sections pipeline sealed cases buried july began holding hearings problems president sent team alaska oversee examine work recommendations team avoid investigations began repairing september questionable redone certified safe asked remaining hearings resulted end november issue leader ford team ordered dug granted buried feet south proof integrity questionable evaluated unique solution section north ground pipeline cut inch fans installed air team men riding wheeled pulled modified entered pipe counted passage arriving questionable taken inside pipe team exited pipe opposite taken camp evaluation estimated total cost million suspected faulty section pipeline construction project northernmost miles area included major problems encountered construction season pass known pipeline laid trench beneath river late fall laid late season trench fill material frozen impossible fill submerged trench containing pipeline spring flooded river battered submerged portion pipe june battered pipeline broke free foot section concrete coated pipe floated surface river repair work interfere migration arctic allowed hours project preparing site took hours replacement trench dug pipe laid trench trench filled pass south workers deal different set challenges discovered pass filled glacial soils pass site frequent elevated pipeline possible solution design reinforced ditch lay pipeline result foot long concrete box lined inches problem building snow started falling october opposite end pipeline north engineers difficulties posed canyon route occupied room available pipeline solution avoid canyon building pipeline rim canyon winter work impossible inches snow fell winter snow melted construction workers figure travel percent grade lay pipeline rock crushing plant built canyon rim avoid need carry gravel steep grade problems persisted traverse grade team helping grade turn modified carry foot meter sections pipe grade sections equipment lifted helicopter canyon rim similar techniques nearby sections required entire construction season complete pump stations marine terminal work pump stations marine terminal stopped winter continued construction season pump station south redesigned excavation revealed ice rich site pump stations needed lower received pumps turbines completed pump stations received testing portions pipe filled water subjected pressures excess eventual operating conditions following testing initial pump stations disconnected main pipeline oil run continuous loop similar new automobile worker said drive days components going fail given time fail work additional pump stations needed pipeline brought capacity pressed forward construction thirds complete september workers complete marine terminal loose soil found job site enormous retaining walls constructed secure ground structures completed end year week november ship docked newly built tanker ship bringing construction material december signal sent operations center new control computers installed pump station project completion meet goal having pipe installed tested winter final section main pipeline place december pipeline tested winter set end project percent complete pipeline percent complete pump stations percent marine terminal stood percent terminal portion project work crew continued operations winter finishing line tasks left complete construction season began pump stations turned operating personnel construction workers environmental cleanup swing repaired damage caused construction performed construction tasks assigned job finishing final touches main pipeline miles testing completed miles pipe tasks pace construction slower fewer workers needed fewer employed peak work half total final pipeline took place additional tasks remained completed pipeline operation foot completed october traffic utilized series ferries river additional pump stations constructed oil flow increased camp cleanup required remove traces pipeline construction camps seven camps closed november closed construction season started told camps went sale sold use arctic research facility converted use truck stop addition removing camps dispose heavy equipment build pipeline january listed pieces equipment sale new_york_times called auction surplus equipment biggest going business sales history turning april filed notice intended start filling pipeline june july engineers face problems filling pipeline need balance temperatures filled air steel pipeline degrees oil emerging wells degrees danger introduced intermediate warming pipeline crack thermal expansion second problem came pipeline needed air order reduce danger fire explosion usually pipeline filled water oil pushes water ahead pipeline goes alaska fear water freeze pipeline damaging problem solved nitrogen instead water june section pipeline nitrogen oil introduced cold temperature pipeline slow rate oil introduced took days oil travel oil thicker explained worker oil similar asphalt problem faced oil traveled avoid situation oil gain momentum downhill slope rapidly crash pipeline section pump damage slow rate nitrogen ahead oil procedure downhill slopes oil advanced pipeline paced series traveled pipeline route ensure weight oil cause pipeline settle create problems bridges weight oil passed inspection crew followed second patrolled pipeline regularly oil passed line oil arrived july oil gradually warmed system reached thermal initial pipeline intended run continuously said engineer start pipeline stay forever forever life oil field incident july nitrogen leak detected flow oil stopped days workers repaired pipe elbow cracked temperature difference pipe nitrogen july oil flowed shut pump workers replaced resulting spray mixed ambient air ignited stray spark worker killed injured resulting explosion shut station march july heavy equipment accident caused pipeline break leaked barrels day oil process construction came end august tanker sailed load oil cost group initially proposed pipeline proposed cost million pipeline completed january projected cost risen million billion october refined figures anticipated cost billion billion potential billion year later released detailed cost estimate point billion june figure risen billion time estimated billion cost rise point inflation billion environmental costs july amid second year construction project cost raised billion increase reported material freight costs repairs needed poorly built sections pipeline estimates final construction cost tallied billion figure include interest investment loans cost improvements repairs cost billion percentage pipeline owned companies changed time primary owner controls percent pipeline second percent followed order percent percent percent pipeline human toll thirty contract workers killed construction project figure include common carrier fatalities pipeline began operating people killed working contractors additional sources allen trans alaska pipeline vol beginning vol south seattle year journey bruce rush north boston pipeline status report alaska john peter lost frontier new_york survey trans alaska pipeline system washington report joe going extremes new_york john coming country john elizabeth seven wonders world history new_york video armstrong john davis mark american experience alaska pipeline pbs season episode april world season episode august
Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System