NWT moving ahead with new all-season road
February 15, 2019
By
CCE
The $411.8 million P3 contract was signed with North Star Infrastructure which includes design-build partners: Kiewit, Hatch, and Thurber Engineering.
New all-season road in red. (source: Northwest Territories Transportation)
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has signed a P3 agreement with North Star Infrastructure (NSI) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road. The $411.8 million contract with NSI covers 28 years (2-3 construction and 25 operations and maintenance).
The NSI team consists of Kiewit Canada Development Corp., and the Tłı̨chǫ Government (as 20% equity provider); together with Design-Build partners Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Hatch, and Thurber Engineering.
“This is a major step in improving connectivity for all residents of the Northwest Territories. The Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road will increase resiliency of the Northwest Territories road network, while allowing for improved social and economic outcomes for the people of Whatì, Gamètì and Wekweètì,” said Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Finance for NWT.
Construction will start in the fall of 2019, and will consist of a new two-lane, 97-km gravel all-season road with completion expected in early 2022. The road will include four major water crossings that will require three bridges and one major culvert.
“This Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road will run through Tłı̨chǫ lands. Tłı̨chǫ Government’s equity ownership in NSI recognizes and respects this important fact” said Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief George Mackenzie. “Tłı̨chǫ Government appreciates the GNWT’s moving this project forward and the generous support of the GNWT to make this project a reality. We also recognize Canada’s contribution. We think this road represents an important piece of the essential infrastructure for the Tłı̨chǫ region. We are very proud of our new partnership and look forward to the economic benefits it will bring to the whole of the Territories.”
