Construction of Tlicho all-season road paused
$200M project shut down until May 15 due to COVID-19 concerns
The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted construction of the Tłı̨chǫ all-season road.
In a notice to regulators this week, the general contractor on the project said construction has been paused until May 15.
The $200 million road will run from Highway 3 west of Yellowknife to the tiny Tłı̨chǫ community of Whatì.
According to the notice, only a handful of workers remain on site for security purposes and to monitor the site as spring closes in.
In an email, the territorial government said that, for the past month, no new non-essential workers have been allowed on the construction site. Non-essential workers who have left have not been allowed to return.
The government says it is too early to tell how the pandemic will affect the timeline for the project.
It was planning to open the 97-kilometre road to the public in the fall of 2022.