Construction of the pipeline began in 1974, following the 1968 discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay and years of political and environmental debate. Designed to withstand earthquakes, permafrost, and extreme weather, TAPS became one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in U.S. history. On June 20, 1977, oil officially began flowing through the pipeline, marking a major milestone in American energy development. After three years of construction and $8 billion in costs (equivalent to $41.2 billion in 2025), the system has safely transported more than 18 billion barrels of oil since it opened.