Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 03/05) - A proposal to extend the Mackenzie highway from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk has some more supporters in its corner.

The Northwest Territories Construction Association has won backing for the project from the Canadian Construction Association, which agreed the highway extension is an issue of national concern.

Premier Joe Handley ignited talk of the $700 million road when he received endorsement for the project from his provincial and territorial counterparts at the Council of the Federation this summer.

David Tucker, president of the Territories Construction Association, said his organization is fully supporting the idea.

"We're pro-development. The road would be of national interest," said Tucker, who cautioned the there's a long road ahead still.

"Support from premiers and the national construction association does not mean the feds.

"Once the federal government sees this highway as a national interest, funding options can become available. The road is too big of an undertaking to complete without federal backing."

According to earlier reports, Handley plans to bring the issue up again when the premiers meet in November.

For the community of Tuktoyaktuk, a year-round highway would be ideal.

"It would mean a great difference to us here," said deputy mayor Merven Gruben.

"Join us with Inuvik first, so if they stop making it, at least we have that connection."

According to Tucker, construction would be done in phases.

"We'd have them start working at both ends, and meet in the middle," explained Tucker.

With more steam gathering behind the idea of connecting Tuktoyaktuk to the rest of Canada, Tucker stressed how integral the federal input would be.

"This can be perceived as a national interest," said Tucker.

"Let's put some meat on the bones and make this a project some time soon."