SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The number of loads slated for the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Road this winter will likely be its lowest since 1999, said Erik Madsen, director of the winter road.

"I would say right now it's estimated at about 3,500," said Madsen. "This is the lowest number of loads since 1999."

That year, trucks on the road hauled 1,861 loads to Yellowknife's three diamond mines.

By comparison, in 2007 – a record year – the road hosted 11,740 loads. Earlier this year, 5,377 loads were recorded.

With construction at De Beers' Snap Lake mine now complete and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. preparing to head underground in the first quarter of next year, building materials are no longer driving up the load totals on the road, which has been built every year since 1982, when it was used to service the Lupin gold mine.

"Most of the construction is done at all these operations now," said Madsen. "Snap Lake's built, Diavik's underground construction has been completed now and basically they're all in operational mode now and that's reduced loads this year."

Madsen said he expects the southernmost portion of the road leading to the Dome Lake maintenance camp, approximately 25 km up the road, will undergo construction beginning Dec. 28.

"As it stands now, the opening is probably going to be around Feb. 4 or 5 and the closing around March 20," he said. "Nuna Logistics is constructing and maintaining the road for the joint venture. EBA Engineering (of Yellowknife) will be doing the engineering analysis."

Deton'Cho/Scarlett Security Services Ltd, a joint venture between Scarlett Security and Deton' Cho Corporation, will handle security for the road.

"At any one time, there's probably 130 to 140 people working on the road in those various positions," said Madsen.