SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - About 25 people sat around waiting for their number to be called at Yellowknife's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office lunchtime on Monday, as renovations cut the number of work stations from three to two.

With renovation work curtained off in the background, Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation, sits in front of one of the service desks at Yellowknife's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office on Monday afternoon. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

No one there wished to comment but some said they had been waiting for around an hour.

"We'll actually be working on improving the office from July 13 until July 31, and we do expect delays during this period, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," said Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation.

"As much as possible the work will be done on weekends and after hours, but there will be construction during working hours as well."

Normally, the office has three stations running, but due to the renovations taking place in main area of the office, only two can remain open for use while construction is going on.

Conway said the ends justify the means. Though there will be increased delays right now, after the renovations are complete the waiting times should be less than before, and the wait should be a more comfortable one.

"There are a number of improvements that we hope to see as a result of the renovations," said Conway.

"One of them, of course, which should make most people happy, is shorter waiting times."

This will be achieved through new work stations, being designed and built off-site by Arcan Construction Ltd.

"We've designed everything so the person who is doing the issuing can do everything from that station. Nobody has to get up - from the time you sit down until the time you leave, you are in one spot, and the issuer is in one spot," said Conway, mentioning that the cameras that take pictures for driver's licenses will be able to slide from station to station.

"Another (improvement) is more privacy for people discussing items of a personal nature. You're sort of in the public (with the old set-up) and if you have to talk about your medical stuff, it's not the greatest," Conway said.

The third, he said, is to make the office environment more comfortable - an "airport-style" seating plan that includes not only an increased number of chairs, but cozier chairs as well.

"Airport seating is designed to take advantage of the amount of room that you have," said Conway, though he couldn't give a number on the exact amount of seats that will be available.

Conway said the renovations will also increase security in the office.

Vehicle registration expires according to the last name of the owner. July is P and Q month, though Conway said the office is also be busy with students back from school for the summer, as well as people who want to re-register early.

The total price of the renovations for the licensing office are approximately $160,000.