Inuvik-bound mosque stuck in Edmonton

A mosque being sent to the Northwest Territories from Winnipeg is stuck in Edmonton for the long weekend.

The mosque, which has been on the road since Wednesday, was built by a Manitoba-based Islamic charity and is being shipped to Inuvik.

Kevin Anderson, who owns the company transporting the mosque, said the journey has been slowed by heavy traffic, a few narrow bridges and some high winds.

Now, Anderson said, there is another delay — Alberta provincial laws forbid wide loads on the roads on Sundays and statutory holidays.

"Can't leave again until Tuesday because of the long weekend, Monday being a holiday, so we're going to start again Tuesday morning and hopefully make it to Hay River by Wednesday [or] Thursday," he said.

The mosque will sit at a truck stop on Highway 21 until Tuesday.

Organizers say building the mosque in Winnipeg instead of Inuvik saved the community tens of thousands of dollars in labour and material costs.

By the time the mosque reaches its destination, it will have traveled 4,000 kilometres by truck and barge.