The North Klondike Highway will receive major upgrades to improve safety and increase capacity on one of Yukon’s busiest highways.
Yukon Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell, on behalf Canada’s Minister of Transportation Marc Garneau, and Yukon’s Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn announced a total of $157 million in funding for the reconstruction project today at the Yukon Transportation Museum.
The project, scheduled to start in 2020, involves reconstructing, rehabilitating, replacing, and resurfacing critical portions of the highway between Carmacks and the Dempster Highway cutoff.
The North Klondike Highway is heavily impacted by increasing levels of thawing permafrost. It is a vital link for industry and a well travelled route for tourists from across the globe. This reconstruction project will increase safety, improve road conditions, and connect Yukoners with an increasing number of economic opportunities including Yukon’s resource sector.
Yukon’s highways bind people and communities together. This project will make the North Klondike Highway safer for the many Yukoners who use it every day and more efficient for the businesses that rely on it to transport goods and services. It will also make it more resilient in the face of permafrost, reducing maintenance and remediation costs in the future.
Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn
Transportation and distribution of goods and people are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies. The investment announced here today will make our transportation system stronger by reconstructing parts of Yukon’s North Klondike Highway and fostering long-term prosperity for our community.
Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell
The Government of Canada is contributing $118 million to the project over nine years under the National Trade Corridors Fund. The Government of Yukon is contributing $39 million. The project is anticipated to be complete in 2027.
The National Trade Corridors Fund aims to address transportation issues including those unique to Canada’s north.
The North Klondike Highway is a key access route for over 50 per cent of Yukoners who live outside of Whitehorse.
This work will increase safety, help grow Yukon’s resource sector, and reduce the costs of highway maintenance.
Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
matthew.cameron@gov.yk.ca
Ryann Anderson
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-667-8522
ryann.anderson@gov.yk.ca