Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the very important piece of infrastructure in our territory which is in my riding, the Deh Cho Bridge. The Deh Cho Bridge is probably one of the territory's largest pieces of infrastructure and the only bridge crossing the Mackenzie River.
Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories discovered that the bridge was damaged. The damage included a broken cable. As a result, traffic is reduced to one lane and there are often line-ups.
Mr. Speaker, constituents in my riding frequently use the Deh Cho Bridge, and they are concerned about the traffic delays and worried about potential safety issues. My constituents aren't the only ones impacted. The bridge is important for many residents of the NWT and for tourism and other industries as this is a year-round highway linking Yellowknife to the south.
Initially, the repair work was supposed to take place this summer; however, this work has not been completed. I made inquiries on the status of the repairs and each time I am told that it will be done soon; however, the work keeps getting pushed back, Mr. Speaker. The government has been aware of this issue for over a year. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
