Northwest Territories Winter Ice Road Opens
February 06, 14![](/image_bank/NewsRoom_FullArticle/LogoBlue.png)
(IDEX Online News) – As winter continues its hold on the American continent, the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road in Canada’s Northwest Territories has begun operations for 2014.
The road provides a vital lifeline for supplying local mines via terrain that is in accessible only by air for 10 months of the year.
The ice road is constructed and operated as a joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., Dominion Diamond Corporation, and De Beers Canada Inc.
The companies are planning to transport about 255,000 tons or about 7,000 loads across the ice this year, said Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture director, Ron Near,. He said that 2014 is expected to be the busiest year for the ice road since 2007.
Diavik said it expects to transport nearly 90,000 tons, or about 2,700 loads to its mine at Lac de Gras.