The Yukon government has successfully secured a portion of U.S. funding aimed at upgrading sections of the rugged Alaska Highway, specifically in the Shakwak corridor.
Originally built as a military supply route during World War II, this vital roadway connects Alaska to the Yukon and southern regions of Canada and the United States.
Spanning from Dawson Creek in British Columbia, the highway winds through northern B.C. and the Yukon via Whitehorse and Beaver Creek before reaching Delta Junction, Alaska.
Last year, the Yukon government announced a significant investment of over $US 30 million for the rehabilitation of parts of the north Alaska Highway.
This undertaking is in partnership with the State of Alaska and U.S. federal highways, as relayed by Krysten Johnson from the Yukon highways department.
On April 23, 2024, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai and the territory’s highways minister, Nils Clarke, enthusiastically announced the project while donning bright orange hard hats and vests at the Whitehorse Grader Station.
The announcement stirred interest, but the 2024 U.S. elections, which saw President Donald Trump securing re-election, introduced uncertainty regarding the funding deals due to the change in U.S. trade policy.
Pillai monitored the situation closely amid the uncertainties.
However, a recent development brought positive news; earlier this spring, confirmation came through that the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) amendment was approved.
This marked a crucial milestone, allowing Alaska to allocate federal funds formally to the project.
On June 6, the State of Alaska announced it would provide $US 7.2 million from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the Shakwak project.
Alaska’s transportation commissioner, Ryan Anderson, emphasized that the Shakwak project reflects a long-standing partnership aimed at maintaining this crucial international corridor.
“The highway allows for year-round access for travelers, truckers, and emergency services,” Anderson stated in a press release.
Additionally, Alaska’s transportation department coordinated with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration to share construction advertisements with contractors in Alaska.
The allocated $US 7.2 million was transferred on May 1 and is specifically designated for repairs between kilometres 1,762 and 1,790 along the highway.
Repair work is set to include various improvements, such as restoring surfaces and slopes, repairing road embankments, replacing failing culverts, reshaping ditches, and stockpiling aggregates, as detailed in the departmental release.
Johnson pointed out that this funding represents the first phase towards a broader financing effort for Alaska Highway repairs.
In light of the Yukon government’s budget, which earmarks $8 million for repairs on this notably rough stretch, the official opposition, the Yukon Party, has demanded clarity on the project’s plan.
Despite lingering questions back in March, the opposition suggested that the Yukon government should move forward with tendering the projects immediately, intending to recoup the funds from the United States later on.
Construction work on the road is anticipated to commence later in 2025, according to Johnson.
Furthermore, two relevant tenders have already been posted on the Yukon government’s bids-and-tenders website, with Nuway Crushing L.P. being the sole bidder for the tender that closed on June 5.
The Yukon government remains dedicated to securing the total funding necessary for these crucial highway upgrades.
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