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Inuvik-Tuk Highway cost estimates expected soon Kassina Ryder Northern News Services Published Monday, January 21, 2013
Jim Stevens, the project's director, said though "minor tweaks" will still be required, 85 per cent of the road's design will also be finalized by the end of January. "We will know where the road goes, we'll now the types of curves and hills, we'll know where the stream crossings are," he said. "We'll know how much material will be required to construct it." Stevens said upgrades to two existing roadways, Inuvik's Navy Road and the 177 Source Access Road near Tuktoyaktuk, could still begin this winter. "If we were to get the panel report in the next little while that would allow our legislature to consider the project. It would allow for federal funding to be confirmed," he said. "If all those pieces fall into place, it's still our intent to initiate upgrade work to Navy Road in Inuvik and the Source 177 Access Road outside of Tuk." Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland hopes the environmental review will be released in time to begin work this season. "We're sitting still trying to be positive that we might be able to get some work done late winter," he said. "Again, everything hinges on this report." Roland said both communities have been anxiously anticipating the benefits the Inuvik-Tuk Highway will bring. In addition to the immediate gains, such as providing easier travel for families in both Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk and job creation, Roland said residents are also looking forward to future benefits. As the final community on the Dempster Highway, Inuvik already draws tourists. Roland said even more tourists will be attracted if the roadway continues all the way to Tuktoyaktuk. The road will also bring down the cost of bringing goods to the communities and pave the way for potential infrastructure projects. Transportation Minister David Ramsay said he is also eager to see the road's cost estimates. The territorial and federal governments entered into a 25/75 funding split agreement and budgeted $150 million in federal funding through Infrastructure Canada, but that was when the road was expected to cost about $200 million. Now, the latest numbers place the cost between $250 million and $300 million. Ramsay said depending on the cost estimates anticipated for release later this month, the territory will have to negotiate funding with the federal government. "If it's significantly more than that, we will have re-gauge and discuss with our federal partners on how to take this next step," he said. Ramsay said politicians and residents are eager to learn the road's latest cost estimates. "Members of this legislature and residents are very anxious to see what the price will be," he said.
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