DEH CHO - Motorists on both of the Deh Cho's highways can expect to encounter work crews this summer as the Department of Transportation starts a series of projects.

The department plans to spend approximately $12 million this year on projects in the Deh Cho and an additional $8 million next year, said Larry Purcka, head of design and technical support services for the department.

A project to chipseal 70 km of Highway 1 starting at its junction with Highway 3 will take place this summer. - NNSL file photo

Work includes approximately 70 km of chipseal that will be laid on Highway 1 beginning at its juncture with Highway 3 and stretching towards Fort Simpson. The project went to tender and was awarded last fall but the contractor asked to defer until this summer because of weather conditions, Purcka said.

Planning is currently underway for the preparatory work that will be done to the highway. Motorists can expect to see work commence on the highway by June 15, Purcka said.

Drivers who are continuing towards Enterprise will see even more roadwork. Beginning approximately 20 km west of Enterprise all of the existing chipseal on Highway 1 is being overlaid with another layer.

Work will also be done to the surface of Highway 7 from the B.C. border to km 20. A tender will be going out in early June for reconstruction and drainage improvements from km 14 to 20.

There are also plans for the troubled centre of the highway.

Highway 7 from Checkpoint to Fort Liard has been closed to all heavy trucks since May 4 because of road conditions. The closure came after a transport pulling a B-train loaded with fuel sank to its axles at km 172.

Once conditions stabilize gravel will be put on the highway from km 90 to 150, Purcka said. As part of an overall Liard Highway improvements project, structural capacity testing will also be done on the road beginning in mid June. All of the gathered data will be looked at from an engineering point of view to determine what work is required where, to make cost estimates and to set priorities, Purcka said.

Work on the highway can't come soon enough, said Julie Capot-Blanc, the mayor of Fort Liard.

Capot-Blanc drove the road in mid-May and described the conditions as "very rough."

"It's poor driving," she said.

The imposed weight limits mean the Hamlet of Fort Liard and other businesses that order supplies from Hay River have an additional wait time because the orders have to be driven into Alberta and then into B.C. before reaching the community, Capot-Blanc said.

MLAs Bob McLeod and Michael McLeod, the minister of transportation, are scheduled to visit Fort Liard on June 2.

"I think a lot of community members will have questions for the minister of transportation about our highway," Capot-Blanc said.

Before the major work begins on Highway 7 soft spots are being addressed as they crop up, said Rod Gunderson, the regional manager of highway operation.

"It's a very difficult task," he said.

Heavy work will begin around June 14 when the frost is out of the ground and load bans are lifted, Gunderson said.

Three other Deh Cho communities will see work take place on their access roads this year.

Drainage work is planned for the Nahanni Butte access road this summer and fall. A gravel haul will be done this winter for resurfacing work in 2011-12, Purcka said.

Minor drainage and surface improvements will also continue on the Jean Marie River access road this summer. On the Trout Lake winter road work is being done near the community.

An embankment is being laid through a wet area between Dog Creek and Island River. The work will raise the level of the road and give fair weather access to Island River.

"This will give them some access outside of the community." Purcka said.

Motorists who regularly drive between Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River also have something to look forward to. A topographic survey will be done on Highway 1 between Checkpoint and km 300 in preparation for the chipsealing of that portion of the highway.

By 2012 or sooner the highway as far as Jean Marie River will be chipsealed, Purcka said.

"Once we have the topographic survey we know how much work we have to put into the road before it can be chipsealed," he said.