That isn't guaranteed, but seems likely given construction progress and ice conditions along the route, said BHP Billiton's Chris Hanks, a spokesman for the joint venture that builds and operates the road.

The 567-kilometre road system starts at Yellowknife and services both the Ekati (BHP) and Diavik diamond mines, as well as Echo Bay's Lupin mine. A branch road runs to De Beer's Snap Lake property.

The estimated $9 million construction cost is shared by the three major users based on tonnage hauled. De Beers pays a flat ton/kilometre fee for hauling on the road.

Construction crews began initial snow clearing started at the south end on Jan. 4 and work is proceeding quickly, said Hanks.

The flotation-tire plough trucks and graders used to build the road require about 14 to 16 inches of ice before starting.

"We had 17 inches of ice at the southern end and 27-inches of ice at Lac de Gras by the middle of December," said Hanks. "We waited on construction to let the ice go down (thicken), but we usually don't start grading until after Christmas anyway."

Primary construction contractor Nuna Logistics now has about 150 workers and two dozen machines at work on the road. Three operating camps are at Lockhart Lake, Dome Lake and Lac de Gras.

Single lane preliminary grading had been completed to Lockhart camp, about half way up the route, within several days of starting. Second-pass work (portage packing and widening of the road and shoulders) is proceeding apace.

The initial haul load capacity will be between 11,250 and 22,500 kilograms, depending on the thickness of the weakest sections along the route when the road is opened, Hanks said.

"We have found that as long as we don't overload them, the early trucks actually help the ice deepen faster, possibly due to the vibration."

Maximum load weights are gradually increased as the season proceeds. Ice conditions allowing, by March load weights approach nearly 63,000 kilograms. "A B-train requires 38 inches of ice and a Super B-train 40 inches.'

Ice thickness is closely monitored by radar through the season and speed limits are strictly enforced.

An estimated 6,000 trucks will use the road this year, against a record 7,900 loads and 250,000 tonnes of freight hauled (both ways) in 2002. Hauling started last year on Jan. 26.

"There will be fewer trucks on the road now that construction at Diavik is completed," said Hanks. Diavik hauled 2,900 loads last year and 4,100 in 2001 during its construction peak.

Fuel, construction supplies, heavy equipment, tires, dry goods, and ammonium nitrate account for the bulk of the tonnage hauled.

"Fuel is definitely the big item," said Hanks. "Re-supply is done only in the winter." BHP alone hauled about 80-million litres of fuel -- a full-year's supply -- into the Ekati mine last winter. With fuel reserves typically running low come February, mine operating managers can become pretty antsy if unfavourable conditions threaten re-supply.

That doesn't appear to be in the cards this year, said Hanks. "An end of January start is about average. And once the road is open fuel trucks can always go in with partial loads if necessary."