Chapter 4: An Explosion of Development — World War II shapes Alaska The proposed shift of the ARR terminus from Seward to Portage Bay would make the trip to Anchorage one of 80 miles, rather than the 150 mile trip from Seward. The entire line would be easily accessible for maintenance. Approachable by sea or by land, it lay on an easy grade, either along the shores of Turnagain Arm or on the flats of broad Portage Valley. The existing track through the Kenai Mountains had a number of twisting wooden bridges and tunnels in remote passes. Defense advisors feared that a single bomb or fire could destroy any number of these bridges, a potential major catastrophe due to the size of some bridges. Repair crews would be hampered by the remoteness of the railbed. Long-term crippling of transportation could last weeks or months, due to the difficulty of rebuilding. Opponents of the move quickly countered with the argument that if a single bombed bridge could cripple the line for weeks, surely a bombed tunnel — such as the ones on the proposed Portage line — would cripple for months or more. Also, they argued, in a time of need, Seward was an established seaport with existing facilities and an experienced labor force. The proposed Portage Bay terminus existed only on paper, and was a complete unknown. Many of Seward's jobs and businesses were on the line, and they aired their protests before members of Congress.
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| “Facing Off” the mountain. Workers cut the beginnings of the tunnel into the base of Mt. Maynard. This initial work took place on the Whittier side of the mountain in 1941. Look closely, there are seven men in this photo. (click image for a larger view) |  Photo courtesy Anchorage Museum of History and Art |
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However, the U.S. Army is rarely swayed by public opinion when the possibility of a war looms on the horizon. With support of the military in Congress, the House and Senate passed the appropriations bill despite Seward's anger, and the $5,300,000 was officially provided April 3, 1941. The money funded the construction of the rail tunnels, 14 miles of track and establishment of a port facility.
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