SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Trucked loads on the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road are expected to nearly double next year over last as the historic mining route approaches its 30th year in service.

Road builders got an early anniversary gift after colder weather and less snow between mid-November and early December resulted in thicker ice than previous years.

Erik Madsen, director of winter road operations for the road's Joint Venture Management Committee, said early test results show the ice is four to six inches thicker than it usually is at this time.

"It's looking pretty good," said Madsen. "(We) have the intent to have the road open in the last few days of January (2011)."

The road usually opens in early February.

Besides the colder weather, less snow has also contributed to thicker ice because snow acts as an insulator from the cold and slows the freezing process, Madsen explained.

He said work crews from Nuna Logistics are scheduled to begin constructing the winter road at the Dome Lake maintenance camp on Dec. 27 and then camps at Lockhart Lake and Lac de Gras are expected to open shortly thereafter. The road requires a minimum ice thickness of 27 inches for light loads and 42 inches for super B fuel trucks with 50,000 litre loads. Last season, the winter road opened on Feb. 4, 2010 with a minimum ice thickness of 31 inches at Dome Lake, according to the committee's website. The road closed on March 24.

Madsen also said a secondary route will resume, connecting the Prosperous Lake winter road to Gordon Lake.

He expects this route to open seven to 10 days after the main route.

The anticipated number of loads headed to mining camps is expected to significantly increase to an estimated 7,200 loads and 240,000 tonnes, compared to last year's 3,930 loads and an approximate 121,000 tonnes, he said. Unlike last year's total loads, the 7,200 estimate doesn't include back hauls.

The reason for this increase is that the Diavik, Ekati and Snap Lake diamond mines are planning to haul more supplies this year, especially fuel and cement, he explained.

The Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road is 568 kilometres long, beginning at Tibbitt Lake 65 km east of Yellowknife and running through to the north end of Contwoyto Lake in Nunavut. On lakes, the width of the road can reach a maximum of 50 metres.

The Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture Committee comprises BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc., Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. and De Beers Canada Inc.

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