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The 300 km Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road closed Wednesday after delivering 174,000 tonnes of material this season - a far cry from the 331,000 hauled in the record-breaking year of 2007. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

"Overall, it was a safe and successful season," said road director Erik Madsen, who Thursday extended, "thanks to the huge team who built and maintained the road."

It was one of the quietest and uneventful seasons in years, with less than half of the volume carried in 2007 - the busiest season on record for the winter road. The road opened February 1 and the final north-bound load was hauled March 22.

"We had a couple of fender benders, but no serious accidents, no injuries, and no spills," said Madsen.

Weather events closed the road for 88 hours this season. Tonnage on the road has been falling since the record season of 2007 when 331,000 tonnes were carried in 10,922 northbound loads and 818 backhauls.

Last year more than 246,415 tonnes were hauled to and from the mines along the 300 km road. This year, 174,000 tonnes of fuel, cement and general freight were carried in 4,846 northbound trips and 530 backhauls.

The largest single load this year was from BHP's Ekati mine, a 109,000-pound box from a truck that will no longer be needed as the mine switches from open pit to underground operations, Madsen said.