Yellowknife (July 31/06) - In the 1950s, the highway to Rae-Edzo was what some in the department of transportation called a "fair weather road."

But those who used to drive it weren't so polite.

"It was all mud and swamp," said Peter Pagonis, Yellowknife resident since 1954.

The entire highway system starting from the Alberta border, which travels around Great Slave Lake, was used as resupply route to the gold mines in the Yellowknife area, said deputy transport minister Russell Neudorf.

In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that gravel was put in place.

At the end of what was an eight year project, the NWT Department of Transportation has laid down chip-sealed asphalt on the last stretch of Hwy. 3 between Rae and Yellowknife - completing the more than two decade upgrade to the highways stretching south to the Alberta border.

But more than that, the department redesigned the highway, taking out many dangerous curves and turns along the road.

Out of more than 120 bends, there are only about 40 left, said the technical services manager in the highways division, Larry Purcka.

Purcka said people won't need to worry about driving out to Rae.

"I think it's less stressful and people can enjoy the ride more," said Purcka, describing the troubles of driving on a winding, gravel road.

People will be less reluctant to drive the road because it's safer, said Neudorf.

"You'll see an increased number of ‘rubber tire' tourist traffic," he said.

Getting rid of the gravel roads will also make it easier on vehicles, said Neudorf, which means fewer cracked windshields and blown tires.

The last 12 km of Hwy. 3 was chip-sealed in June.

Neudorf said finishing the highway was something those travelling the road wanted.

"It's a general comment, everybody wants a paved surface," he said, adding this was the last stretch of the highway system to be finished because it's difficult to build a new road in the rocks of the Canadian Shield.

Every kilometre of the highway to Rae-Edzo cost around $850,000, compared to $250,000-$300,000 on the other highways, said Neudorf. The highway is 95 km long with a total cost of the project at about $75 million.

But as many Northerners know, roads are somewhat of a luxury, with many places still dealing with mud, gravel roads, or even no roads at all.

Dellis Partridge, a truck driver for Grimshaw Trucking, said driving the highway is much easier now.

"Ten 20, five, even two years ago it could shake the springs out from under your truck," said Partridge.

He drives all over the country, but said he usually drives on Hwy. 3 two to three times a week.

Purcka, who has lived here for 30 years, said he feels a sense of accomplishment now that the road is finished.

"I think everybody wanted to see this done," he said.

That, and it will be a much easier drive out to see his grandchildren in Alberta in August, he said.

Peter Pagonis hasn't driven on the highway yet, but said he plans to soon.

Now he's just waiting for a bridge to be built over the Mackenzie River.

"We'll see if my share will turn to gold," he laughed.

Hwy. 3 is also the last stretch of the existing national highway system in Canada to be paved. The national highways put together a span of 27,000 km of road, connecting urban centres, he said.

A ceremony commemorating the completion is planned for September.