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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Highway 5 is to be chipsealed this summer.

The work is part of the Department of Transportation's plan to chipseal the entire highway as soon a possible, said Earl Blacklock, the manager of public affairs and communications with the department.

Highway maintenance will be done differently on Highway 5 near Fort Smith once chipseal is in place. The government has allotted $6.6 million over four years towards the project. - NNSL file photo

The department has earmarked approximately $6.6 million over four years, beginning with $1.4 million this year, for the capital project. The project will include widening the road where necessary to meet national standards, said Blacklock.

"Part of the intent of this is to bring it up to national highway standards," he said.

Chipseal commonly consists of layers of asphalt and crushed rock or gravel.

The majority of Highway 5, which stretches 267 km in total, is already chipsealed. The gravel portion, extending from kilometre 106 to kilometre 215, runs primarily through Wood Buffalo National Park.

The chipsealing project will be done in partnership with the park.

The approximately 116 km of the highway running through the park technically belong to Parks Canada, said Ed Coulthard, the field unit superintendent for the southern NWT for Parks Canada.

Parks Canada and the Department of Transportation are in negotiations to strengthen their partnership and define their roles and responsibilities with regards to the highway. An earlier agreement on operations and maintenance and capital that was developed in the late 1960s was only followed for a short time, said Coulthard. The agreements need to be "modernized," he said.

Last year Parks Canada contributed $1 million for operations and maintenance as well as the capital for the highway. Prior to that Parks Canada hadn't contributed for a number of years, he said.

The two groups are currently looking at the amount that should be spent on operations and maintenance over the next year. They are also working on a five-year capital plan that should be completed in the next few months, said Coulthard.

"We have a fairly good working relationship with the GNWT and that's helped us immensely," Coulthard said.

The chipsealing project will be included in the plan.

"We see the advantage of having the road chipsealed," said Coulthard. "It has the potential to increase tourism for the park."

In general, residents from the community of Fort Smith would also like to see the highway chipsealed, he added.