DEH CHO - Improvement projects are in the works for the Deh Cho's two highways.

"We're looking at quite a bit of investment in highways 1 and 7 in the Deh Cho region," said Michael McLeod, the minister of transportation.

The Department of Transportation plans to chipseal 70 km of Highway 1 this year beginning at its junction with Highway 3 and stretching towards Fort Simpson. The tendering process on the project is expected to close within the next two weeks and work should start within a month, McLeod said.

This section of the highway was reconstructed over the last few years preparing it for the chipseal application.

"We're starting to find it's fairly cost-effective to chipseal an area that's already reconstructed," McLeod said.

Highway 7 is also getting some attention.

The entire highway is undergoing an assessment to determine the weak areas and decide what is needed to fix those spots. Reconstruction will be done on the necessary areas, said McLeod.

The department was looking at chipsealing the first 20 km of the highway this year but it's getting late in the season. The project is expected to commence next year, he said.

In the meantime, parts of Highway 7 are being resurfaced and work is ongoing to rehabilitate the decks of the bridges. Work is also being done on the culverts along the highway and dust suppression measures, are being undertaken, said McLeod.

Approximately $12 million has been budgeted for improvements to Highway 1 and 7 over the coming construction seasons. McLeod was unable to say precisely how many seasons the money would be spread over.

Some of the money will also be used for planned improvements to the Trout Lake winter road and on a joint project with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to improve the rest stops and pull-out areas on the Deh Cho's highways, said McLeod.

The department's goal is to eventually reconstruct and chipseal the entirety of both highways 1 and 7. Residents of Fort Liard are in favour of any improvement projects that are undertaken on Highway 7, said Wayne Newbury, the hamlet's mayor.

"It's good to see they are finally paying attention to this road," he said.