Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 19/05) - The latest construction delays along Highway 3 and the lack of Rae-Edzo residents working on the multi-million dollar project are "frustrating," the hamlet chief said Tuesday.

"I think they spread themselves too thin," said Leon Lafferty, a former MLA and newly-elected member of the Tlicho government. "People were hopeful the work would be finished."

His comments came one week after the territorial government confirmed the 100km stretch of highway between Rae-Edzo and Yellowknife would not be completed by October, as planned.

A wetter than average summer and a shortage of heavy equipment operators were the two main reasons for the delay, said Bob Kelly, a transportation department spokesperson.

Lafferty questioned those reasons and said there are flood of qualified operators in Rae-Edzo who applied to contractor RTL Enterprises - only to be rejected. "To say there was a labour shortage is not true," Lafferty said. "In a community of mine where over 100 heavy equipment operators are not working - it is frustrating."

Kelly referred the labour issues to RTL, but the company did not respond to Yellowknifer questions by deadline.

The $67-million project began more than two decades ago and faced several logistical hurdles on its route over 100km of rock, muskeg and permafrost.

About 12km of highway will remain to be paved next spring, though Kelly said there was no firm completion date.

Lafferty said the highway - which alternates between pavement, dirt and gravel - is "hell on vehicles."

He encouraged the government to lay down a smooth surface before the construction season ends in the fall.