SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A fuel truck arrives at the Snap Lake Mine on the morning of Feb. 13. The route to the diamond mines north from Yellowknife was closed to heavy haul traffic on March 31. - photo courtesy of De Beers |
Winter road builders received a hand from Mother Nature this year as cold temperatures helped in the construction of the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto Winter Road.
The road opened on Jan. 30 to a controlled number of vehicles and officially closed to commercial heavy haul traffic on March 31.
In total, the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture counted 6,017 loads and 223,206 tonnes of freight transported this year on the road, which services the diamond mines north of Yellowknife. About 454 backhauls were removed from client mine sites.
Ron Near, director of winter road operations for the joint venture, had projected 7,000 loads were expected to cross the system this season, but clients were able to carry heavier loads earlier because below seasonal temperatures contributed to favourable ice conditions.
There were at least two temporary road suspensions in February as weather temperatures rose, bringing increased snowfall and wind gusts, according to online road updates.
Last year, extended periods of unseasonably warm weather at the beginning of the road season prompted several closures and the dispatch of many partial loads along the 600-km winter road.
