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Mr. Speaker, investing in our roads, bridges, airports and highways is critical to keep communities connected, improve safety, and support economic growth. Whether it is making sure families can travel safely, helping businesses move goods, or supporting emergency response, strong transportation infrastructure is essential for all Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, crews have been working across the territory over the last year to improve road conditions and safety. Highway 1, the Mackenzie Highway received about 39 km of chipseal overlay, and work is underway to widen embankments and improve drainage. This project continues until 2026. Highway 3, the Yellowknife Highway, received 89.5 km of chipseal overlay, and surface repairs to major dips are scheduled for this summer.

Highway 4, the Ingraham Trail, sections of the highway underwent embankment-widening and culvert replacements, and work will be continuing in summer 2025.  Highway 7, the Liard Highway, extensive rehabilitation work began, including chipseal overlay, road widening, clearing, ditching, and culvert replacement. This multi-year project continues until 2026.

Finally, Highway 10, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, crews focused on seasonal maintenance, including soft shoulders, wash-boarding, and culvert work.

This season, rehabilitation work will begin, continuing over the next few years. In total, more than 150 kilometers of chipseal overlay was completed across Highways 1, 3, and 7.

Mr. Speaker, access roads are lifelines for smaller communities, and we continue to invest in their improvement as well. Significant upgrades have been completed or are underway in this area.

Improvements to the Whatì Access Road were completed this summer, while the Rae Access Road received resurfacing and new chipseal. Rehabilitation work began on the Liard Access Road, including chipseal, road widening, clearing, ditching, and culvert replacement. This multi-year project will continue until 2026. Lastly, the Prohibition Creek Access Road, a key piece of the future Mackenzie Valley Highway, opened for year-round traffic this past fall.

Our bridges and crossings are just as critical. The Northwest Territories has 115 bridges and 247 bridge-culverts across our all-weather and winter road systems. GNWT bridge engineers regularly inspect all structures to ensure safety and reliability.

Mr. Speaker, major bridge projects include the Deh Cho Bridge, which received critical repairs to a broken cable and all connecting pins were replaced. The bridge reopened to regular two-lane traffic in early February. 

Replacement work on the Jean Marie River Bridge will begin in this summer and is expected to be completed by fall 2026. Work will also begin on the Redknife River this summer to replace culverts with a permanent bridge and should be completed by the fall 2026.

Beyond maintenance, we are investing in the future of our transportation network. The Mackenzie Valley Highway continues to advance, with the Prohibition Creek Access Road marking a key milestone and is currently undergoing an environmental assessment.

The Dehk'è Frank Channel Bridge replacement project is moving forward. We recently held public engagement sessions in Behchokǫ̀, and we are using the feedback to help shape future plans. Construction is planned to begin this fall.

Mr. Speaker, aviation plays a vital role in the North, and investments in airport infrastructure are key to maintaining a strong, reliable transportation system.

The Yellowknife Airport is developing a strategic plan to guide long-term sustainability and future capital improvements. This includes fleet renewal, accessibility upgrades, geotechnical studies on the airport’s two runways, and ongoing discussions with the Department of National Defense about potential investments through the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, modernization project.

In Inuvik, the Mike Zubko Airport is undergoing a federally funded runway expansion to support northern air sovereignty operations. The runway is being extended by 3,000 feet to accommodate modern military aircraft, including the F-35 fighter jets. Additional upgrades include widening the runway safety area and improving drainage to address permafrost degradation, modernizing lighting, navigation, and military landing systems and resurfacing of the existing runway, pending funding approval.

This project is expected to be completed by 2029, with paving and electrical work scheduled for 2027, following a permafrost stability assessment.

Mr. Speaker, maintaining infrastructure in the North comes with unique challenges. Climate change, extreme weather, and permafrost degradation all impact our roads, highways, and airports. That is why we continue to work with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, academic institutions, and federal partners to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to keep our transportation system resilient.

These investments reflect our government’s commitment to building a safer, more efficient, and better-connected Northwest Territories. I want to thank the engineers, contractors, maintenance crews, and everyone who works hard to make these projects possible. Their efforts ensure that residents, businesses, and visitors can travel safely and reliably.

Together, we are strengthening our transportation network today and for generations to come.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.