Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, in my statement I mentioned the overflow at Kilometre 140, which is also known as Georgetown, but I also have three other areas along the Dempster in my riding that have this problem with overflow. One area is kilometre 135, roughly; kilometre 115; and kilometre 198. I would like to ask the Minister: what do inspectors from the Department of Infrastructure have to say about the safety of the ice patches on the Dempster Highway caused by overflow? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue came up last year, particularly around the Georgetown area, and we are continually monitoring this area with overflow issues on the Dempster in a number of places, as the Member has spoken about.
In particular, right now, at kilometre 213, we have an issue. The department built a couple of berms there to hold back water, but, due to climate change this year and the warming temperatures in that region, a lot of water is coming up from underground, and we had an issue on the highway. A contractor has been out there. He has ice-plated that section to make it rough and improve traction for vehicles, but we have also put up additional signage in that area.
At Georgetown itself, at 140, there is no ice on the highway. These culverts were steamed earlier this year, and overflow is flowing properly there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the Minister mentioned, there have been backhoes out there and also steamers, which the department has been doing over the last nine years or so. That adds to a lot of costs. What other options has the department developed to solve these problems?
In the department, we have our permafrost experts and our engineers monitoring these areas, particularly kilometre 213, to come up with a longterm solution.
Last year, the Member asked me about the Yukon using heat traces, and I am glad to say that, at these four sites at kilometre 213, we will be purchasing heat traces to install at that location. Our contractors are out there diligently trying to keep the road safe for everybody, and, like I said, they have steamed these culverts. Everything is flowing as they should be, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
The Minister answered a part of my next question. The Minister did mention they will put a heat trace line at kilometre 213, but how about kilometre 140 and the other areas, Mr. Speaker? If the department is not going to solve the drainage issue another way, will heat trace lines be installed in all of these overflow areas?
As I have said, at kilometre 140, everything seems to be working fine. The department will continue to monitor the other culverts moving forward. We will be installing these four heat traces in the springtime at 213, and we will monitor things going forward. If this becomes something that we need to do at other sections of the highway, we will have a look at it.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister needs to update his information because everything is not fine at kilometre 140. It is actually flowing alongside the road there, which is flooding out the camp alongside the road. It is pretty clear that it is needed at kilometre 140. Will the Minister ensure that a heat trace line will be put at 140; if not, for a pilot project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am not going to get into a debate about 140 in Georgetown again. We had that conversation last year. The resident that is there, his father was moved previous to that situation. Someone else moved back into a location that has a troubled area, particularly with climate change flowing in that area, but we will continue to monitor 140. If it becomes an issue with safety, being a priority on our highway system, we will have a look at it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
