On the road to TAPS Milepost 781

Turn off the Richardson Highway just north of Valdez onto pipeline access road 4-APL-1 and see what it takes to access the complex integrity dig above Keystone Canyon in this timelapse video. A recent smart-pig survey indicated there was an anomaly on the pipe, so teams have excavated the mainline, are assessing the condition of the pipe and will make repairs as needed. To reach the site, vehicles navigate up the narrow gravel access road nearly 1000 feet of elevation via a series of eight hills. Four-wheel drive, ample clearance for creek crossings, and constant radio communication with other transiting TAPS vehicles are a must to safely make the 3.1-mile drive.
The project has leveraged the expertise of nearly every major TAPS contracting partner and many smaller ones as well.