Almost a dozen tribes have worked together to create the longest ice road ever on Alaska's Kuskokwim River, stretching 200 miles from Bethel upstream to Crooked Creek. The project was completed during the warmest winter on record, and involved ploughing a section of the river that had never been attempted before. The road provides employment during a time of year when seasonal work is scarce, and allows residents, businesses and government agencies to avoid expensive plane tickets. However, caution is advised for travellers, particularly in areas where there is no cell phone service and the snow drifts quickly.