The Government of the Northwest Territories advises that Highway 8 (The Dempster Highway) is scheduled to re-open on June 6, subject to river and weather conditions.

While Highway 8 will be open from kilometre 1 to 272, the Yukon/Northwest Territories border will remain closed to all traffic except for:

·Maintenance Vehicles

·Emergency Vehicles

·Supply Chain Vehicles

·Residents with an approved social isolation plan in place

·Persons with approved exemption from Protect NWT

The highway re-opening will coincide with the opening of the MV Louis Cardinal ferry, which is scheduled for June 3, and the opening of the CF Abraham Francis ferry, which is scheduled for June 6. 
The highway closure, which included kilometres 1 to 14, was ordered on May 5 by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories under the Public Highways Act after the ice crossings on Highway 8 closed for the season and to support the overall response to COVID-19.

·For information on restrictions at all four NWT highway border crossings, click here.

·For the latest status of all highway ferries, click here.

For media requests related to COVID-19, contact: 
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
presssecretary@gov.nt.ca