The Alaska Marine Highway provides a vital surface transportation link throughout the area and country, as only three communities (Haines, Hyder and Skagway) enjoy direct connections to the contiguous North American road system.
ðɪ ɐlˈæskə mɚɹˈiːn hˈaɪweɪ pɹəvˈaɪdz ɐ vˈaɪɾəl sˈɜːfɪs tɹænspoːɹtˈeɪʃən lˈɪŋk θɹuːˈaʊt ðɪ ˈɛɹiə ænd kˈʌntɹi, æz ˈoʊnli θɹˈiː kəmjˈuːnᵻɾiz hˈeɪnz, hˈaɪdɚɹ ænd skˈæɡweɪ ɛndʒˈɔɪ dᵻɹˈɛkt kənˈɛkʃənz tə ðə kəntˈɪɡjuːəs nˈɔːɹθ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɹˈoʊd sˈɪstəm.