Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories transportation system is critical to connect residents and communities, to support the economy and allow for the delivery of goods and services. Our government is committed to improving, maintaining, and expanding our highway system to offer safe and reliable infrastructure that can adapt to effects of time and climate change while also creating training and employment opportunities for our residents.
Mr. Speaker, we had another busy highway construction season last year. In fact, this year alone we spent more than $45 million improving our highways, bridges, and access roads. Some of the highlights of the work included:
more than 160 kilometres of chip seal overlay; 68 kilometres of roadway rehabilitation;
five bridge rehabilitations;
preengineering work for the rehabilitation and replacement of several structures; and,
the completion of approximately 135 bridge and culvert inspections.
On Highway No. 1, chip seal overlay was made to 138 kilometres of road, including the Fort Simpson Access Road and the Fort Simpson Airport Access Road. Rehabilitation work including embankment widening and drainage improvement on a 12kilometre section are in progress and will be completed this summer.
On Highway No. 3, we have had very positive discussions with Transport Canada on the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge. Pending approval funding, permit applications for this project will be submitted this year with construction commencing once these authorizations are received. We also completed surface repairs and rehabilitation on Highway No. 3 during the past year, including chip seal overlay of 23 kilometres of the road.
Similar work was done on the Ingraham Trail on a section that is a little over four kilometres long, and work on 14 kilometres of Highway No. 7 in progress and will be completed this summer. Both projects include embankment widening and culvert replacement.
The Dempster Highway received embankment widening and rehabilitation on a 10kilometre section on the Marine Bypass.
On the Whati Access Road, the first phase of rehabilitation work was completed last year, which included right of way clearing and material production for Phase 2 work. In Phase 2, the 12kilometre access road that connects the community to the Tlicho Highway will be improved, including road embankment reconstruction, installation of drainage culverts, and replacement of culverts with a short span bridge. Work on this project is expected to begin later this year.
Mr. Speaker, this is just an overview of the hard work the Department of Infrastructure and its contractors are carrying out. More work will be completed this summer and fall and new projects will be initiated, including rehabilitation on the InuvikTuk Highway. We recently received federal funding for this project which will include raising lowprofile embankment areas, improving drainage, and installing guardrails as needed.
We continue to work closely with all of our public and private sector partners to build and maintain transportation networks that meets the current and future needs of the territory.
Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
