Successful Completion of the Third Construction Season of the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway

News Release

For Immediate Release

May 19, 2016 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories are pleased to announce the completion of a successful third construction season of the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway. This season saw the historic joining of the two construction spreads on April 7, linking the north and the south sections after years of hard work. Work will resume in the fall of 2016, with this northern-most section of the envisioned Mackenzie Valley Highway scheduled to open in the fall of 2017.

Employing 400 individuals at the peak of construction season, the project has delivered numerous socio-economic and training opportunities in the region. It continues to be an opportunity for growth as the Government of the Northwest Territories works hand in hand with EGT-Northwind to connect Canada coast to coast to coast.

Construction continues to be carried out according to best practices and the leading-edge of innovative and resilient highway engineering design. On April 19-21, scientists and experts from Canada and the United States gathered in Inuvik for an International Symposium of Permafrost Scientists. The Government of Northwest Territories’ Department of Transportation (DOT) assumed a leading role in the discussion of new construction techniques and monitoring techniques for civil engineering projects in a permafrost condition. The DOT also recently hosted two Erosion and Sediment Control certification courses to gain up-to-date knowledge on this important topic.

Quick Facts

· The Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a collaborative project of the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, and the Town of Inuvik.

· The Government of Canada is contributing $200 million towards this project.

· The Government of the Northwest Territories is contributing $99 million.

· The total estimated cost of the project is $299 million.

· The work is being completed using unique construction techniques that ensure the underlying continuous permafrost remains protected in a frozen state.

Quotes

“Our Government has made unprecedented commitments to support public infrastructure across Canada. The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a key piece of infrastructure that will help connect people, create jobs, and support economic development in the North. We are very encouraged by the progress of the project and look forward to the next stage of construction.”

- The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“I am very pleased with the successful completion of the third season of construction. This season saw several milestones completed, with highway infrastructure now connecting to the Arctic Ocean for the first time. I am happy to say that we remain on schedule and on budget and look forward to continuing work in the fall.”

- Wally Schumann, Minister of Transportation, Government of the Northwest Territories

Associated Links

To learn more about infrastructure investments through Budget 2016: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2016/docs/plan/ch2-en.html

To learn more about Infrastructure Canada: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/index-eng.html

To learn more about infrastructure investments across the Northwest Territories: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/nt-eng.html

To learn more about the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway project: http://ith.dot.gov.nt.ca/

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Contacts

Press Office
Brook Simpson

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

613-219-0149

Ioana Spiridonica

Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway Communications

Department of Transportation

Government of the Northwest Territories

867-767-9040 ext. 31003

Infrastructure Canada

613-960-9251

Toll free: 1-877-250-7154