Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up from my Member's statement, it appears that the Dehk'e Bridge is not a priority of this government. Will the Minister of Infrastructure commit to being firm and not accepting any further delays on the Dehk'e Bridge? It is it my hope to see it constructed within not the lifetime of this government but, you know, like any time soon. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dehk'e Frank Channel Bridge is a priority of this government. It's a priority because I went to Ottawa asking for more money to get this bridge completed. So, I mean, if that doesn't show priority, I don't know what does.
Mr. Speaker, we are working with the Tlicho partnership to be able to look you know, I just want to say it takes about three years, Mr. Speaker, from award of the designbuild contract to obtaining permits, to carrying out some of the design work, complete the construction. Then that bridge will be ready for traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to giving an update every three months with specific details of action, sequencing, and project timelines so that we know the department is being diligent and that progress is being made.
Mr. Speaker, the inability to meet past projection makes the current projection suspect. It lacks credibility. Again, I ask that the Department of Infrastructure does all that it can to advance the critical infrastructure project. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can absolutely work with the Tlicho government and the Member to be able to give updates, you know, when there are updates available. I just want to note that, you know, we are expecting a proposal from the TlichoKiewit partnership by the end of June to be able to look at the design, and then we can start the aggregate production. So, I mean, that's where we're at right now, Mr. Speaker. And I'd be willing at any time there are updates to be able to share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I also asked the Department of Infrastructure ensure the safety of the current bridge seeing that a replacement is not around the corner. Can the Minister commit to reviewing inspection reports and updating the inspection frequency by bridge experts should the situation require it? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last Assembly, the or in the last sitting, the Member had asked to be a part of the bridge inspection. I'm now in the process of finalizing a letter that will go out to the leadership as well as the Member for Monfwi to be able to invite the membership the Member and the leadership to come to one of our bridge inspections. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure has claimed that the new bridge will be wider and higher than the current bridge that was built in 1960. Could the Minister tell this Assembly details of the new design? Will there be walkways, a viewing platform; how is traditional knowledge and signs being incorporated? Let us see the design. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, you know, it's going to take three years to award this contract and some of the things that we're still working on now is getting our permits, carrying out the design, so we're not there yet, Mr. Speaker, to be able to complete construction. So I mean, there is no design as of yet but, you know, our department would be willing to have a look at look at some of our work going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
