N.W.T. to study turning diamond mine ice road into all-season road
Premier Bob McLeod also announces study into Mackenzie Valley energy corridor
The Northwest Territories government is looking into the possibility of turning the first 150 kilometres of the ice road to the diamond mines into an all-weather road.
It's one of two ambitious studies announced by Premier Bob McLeod at a gala event with territorial and federal politicians tonight in Ottawa.
"Not only would it provide for more certainty with resupply, it would also facilitate development of other mineral properties in the Slave Geologic Province," McLeod told CBC News.
Another option would see the all-weather road go all the way to Nunavut, near the Lupin gold mine.
McLeod also announced a separate study into what he calls an "energy, communications and transportation corridor" along the Mackenzie Valley to the Arctic Ocean.
McLeod says that study has received interest, but not official support, from Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and Sahtu leaders.