N.W.T. Highway 4 bypass to open Friday
New Ingraham Trail route avoids Giant Mine
People leaving Yellowknife on the Ingraham Trail will no longer drive past Giant Mine as of Friday, when a bypass road around the contaminated site is set to open to traffic.
The new access road between Highway 3 and 4 opens Jan. 31 at noon. It meets Highway 3 near the entrance to Fred Henne Territorial Park and connects to the Ingraham Trail before the Yellowknife River.
The territory built the bypass road because there were concerns about the long-term impact of vehicles driving over underground chambers filled with toxic arsenic trioxide at Giant Mine.
The Department of Transportation is warning motorists to expect delays and be aware of people turning on to the new section of road.
Earl Blacklock, spokesman for the Department of Transportation, says there will be access to Vee Lake from the new road. People will still be able to drive the old road to the Ski Club, landfill and cruising club dock.