The New Highway From Alaska Route One Means You Don't Need as Many Ships

Portlock is not accessible from this new roadway from alaska route one, which means things are starting to look economically grim. This means you don't need as many ships. And if you live in a town that, like portlock, is not accessible  from this new roadway,. then things are looking bleak for the residents of those towns. So it's possible people like kiel's parents just told her a story they thought a kid would understand.