Yellowknife (Mar 06/06) - Wekweeti's Patricia Magrum says she's not going to worry until the middle of month - about the time Transportation officials hope the winter road to the community will open.

The winter road to Whati has been up and running since Feb. 8, but the connecting route to Gameti is weeks behind the normal opening date.

The average opening date over the last five years for the 103km Whati road is Feb. 1, with a closing date of April 18. It has opened as early as Dec. 18 and as late as Feb. 19.

The 58km Gameti road is usually open by Feb. 18. Magrum said the Wekweeti road - essentially the end of the line - can open anywhere from March 1 to the end of the month.

Magrum said the winter road offers her a chance to drive into Yellowknife and stock up on a "year's worth of cleaning supplies."

She recalls one time several years ago when warm weather prevented the road's completion, but she's still hopeful this year.

"If there's anything we need for the house, we try to get it on the winter road instead of a (scheduled flight)," said Magrum.

"For furniture or big supplies like that."

The Department of Transportation had hoped the Gameti portion of the road would be ready by March 4, but according to communications manager Bob Kelly, their contractor has run into a string of bad luck that has put that date out of reach.

"They've encountered some additional overflow problems in a couple of areas, some equipment issues," said Kelly on Friday.

"In one case a Snow Cat actually went through the ice, and in another a plow truck broke down."

Kelly said they were still awaiting an update from contractor Stan Dean and Son on when he expects the road to be complete.

Kelly said last weekend's forecast in the low minus-double digits doesn't help. The weather is expected to remain mild for the rest of the week.

Winter roads to Whati and Gameti cost the government about $315,000 a year to build. Kelly said the Wekweeti road's cost is based on an hourly rate, with some of the charge going to the federal government for reclamation work at nearby Colomac mine.

Extra men and equipment have been brought in to try and quicken the pace, said Kelly.

Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty wants the government to build all-weather roads to the three Tlicho communities open to winter roads only.

"There's a huge concern now in the communities," said Lafferty."I'm getting a clear message from all four chiefs (including from Rae) that we need an all-weather road access to the outlying communities."