Yellowknife (Aug 13/03) - A connector road between the Kam Lake subdivision and Highway 3 beyond the airport is part of the city's current 10-year plan.

Greg Kehoe, director of public works and engineering for the city says this means the project is currently at the year nine or 10 spot.

"But that could be adjusted by council. Each year it will compete with other ideas and projects," Kehoe notes.

Details regarding the road have yet to be worked out with regard to funding arrangements or exact location, but he estimates the project to be in the "multi-million dollar" range.

Such a road would foster new growth and development in the Kam Lake area, says Yellowknife's director of public works and engineering.

"A large portion of it (Kam Lake area) is undeveloped, raw land," Greg Kehoe says, adding that more of land is not developed than is currently being utilized.

But as well as creating potential for industrial growth, Kehoe says a new connector road would lessen traffic flow on Old Airport Road.

Yellowknife Mayor Gordon Van Tighem says an information letter has been sent to the GNWT requesting the project be considered for future capital funding, but a response has yet to be received.

"The key to this is it gives direct highway access to industrial business," Van Tighem says, adding that relieving traffic challenges on the Old Airport Road is also a factor.

While the project has been in the works since 1999, he says the city is "looking at how soon we have some action."

The area on which the road would be developed is Commissioner's land.