Debates of August 21, 2007 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I highlighted in my Member's statement today, there are a lot of concerns, as I see it and RVers see it coming to Yellowknife, with that Highway No. 3. Mr. Speaker, some sections are very good; I’ll say that for a fact. But some sections are very less good let me tell you, Mr. Speaker…

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, that highway cost us approximately $200 million and I’d say that’s probably $200 million well spent on a dust control program but not a highway, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know, has the Minister of Transportation done any work in finding out what it will cost to fix those dips in that highway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Transportation takes concerns raised by the travelling public very seriously.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause

The concerns raised on Highway No. 3 have been raised by the chief of Behchoko as well as the MLA…

Numerous times.

…numerous times and I just have to remind the Member, as well, that the Government of the Northwest Territories has invested millions of dollars over the past many years and the highway is now wider, straighter and safer overall. We continue to monitor any major concerns and we’ll address them as such, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation reads that script very well. I almost believe him. But I didn’t. So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is the warranty of this project seems to have gone by the wayside. I’d like to know was there a warranty in place or did we get a second-rate job at a second-rate price? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The department takes great pride in all its projects. We complete them to the best of our ability and we will continue to do so. We pride the contractors that work for our department as well. The Member did mention that climate change is affecting the highway and we do maintain that, as well, Mr. Speaker. There are many, many ice lenses that were discovered during construction and we continue to repair those and mitigate them as conditions dictate. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister with his very thorough answer on the lenses and climate change problem, but it’s interesting because on one side of Behchoko, the side that Yellowknife is on, the highway goes up and down like a roller coaster and the other side between Behchoko and Fort Providence is relatively smooth; it’s a great quality highway. So, Mr. Speaker, maybe the Minister of Transportation can enlighten this House on why our side of Highway No. 3 is in such poor condition in reference to why the other side is in so much better condition. Can he help me with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Mr. Speaker…

---Laughter

…the Member’s asking for enlightenment and I’ll try my best to do that.

---Laughter

He’s got to remember that the new Highway No. 3, there were some major realignments which means we had to cross some new sections; some of them had these ice lenses in them. So that’s what’s causing the slumping and erosion that’s going on to this date, Mr. Speaker. Also, because it’s a fairly new highway, it will take about seven to 10 years it’s estimated for it to settle and maintain that solid base. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think all through this we’ve missed the answer of how we’re going to fix this and how we’re going to deal with it. We’re going to hear just sit and wait, but we just had a mission accomplished or a big celebration last year. Well, Mr. Speaker, yes, it was a great celebration that it sort of got done, but when are we going to actually go back and just finish the job? So how much is it going to cost to fix and when are we going to get started on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 162-15(6): Condition Of Highway No. 3

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our Chipseal Program is something that we monitor. There is a five-year cycle for it; it takes about five years for the chipseal…It does deteriorate. We do have an annual budget to address this on Highway No. 3. that’s about $650,000 to $700,000. The first sections that were done on Highway No. 3 were about five years ago and we’re addressing those right now, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.