NWT to Investigate Turning Ice Road into Year-Round Road
February 02, 15
(IDEX Online News) – The government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) is investigating the feasibility of turning the first 150 kilometers of the ice road, which runs from Tibbitt to Contwoyto into an all-weather road.
The road provides a vital lifeline for supplying local mines via terrain that is only accessible by air for 10 months of the year.
The plan was announced by NWT Premier Bob McLeod. "Not only would it provide for more certainty with resupply, it would also facilitate development of other mineral properties in the Slave Geologic Province," McLeod told CBC News. Three active diamond mines, the Gahcho Kue mine, which is currently in development and several other prospective sites are located in the Slave Geologic Province.
Cbc.ca reported that Ron Near, who runs the 400 kilometer ice road, says the section being studied by the territorial government is ripe for transformation. This section of road is close to Gahcho Kue.
According to Near, creating an all-season road would reduce the risk of the ice road closing early due to warm temperatures, leaving the mines without their full complement of supplies.
About 9,500 trucks are scheduled to travel on the road this year, reported cbc.ca.
The ice road is constructed and operated as a joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., Dominion Diamond Corporation and De Beers Canada Inc.