Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway in the Northwest Territories.

The project is expected to extend the Dempster Highway through to the Arctic coast.

The highway will link the Town of Inuvik and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk; an Arctic community that is currently accessible only by ice road, barge or air.

Once completed, the new road will be the first year-round road between the Arctic coast and the rest of the country.

"This project realises the visionary initiative of Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker back in the 1960’s."

Prime minister Harper said: "I am tremendously proud that our Government’s investment in this job-creating, all-season Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway will, for the first time by road, connect and unify Canada from sea to sea to sea.

"This historic project realises the visionary initiative of Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker back in the 1960’s."

Expected to be completed in 2018, the new stretch of the highway will offer more efficient transport of northern products and resources to southern markets, while providing high quality, well-paying jobs.

It will bring lower costs for supplies and materials up to northern communities and families, reduce the cost of living in Tuktoyaktuk and boost the local economy.

The road has been identified as a priority by of Canadian and the Northwest Territories governments because it will have a direct impact on the region.

Image: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new project. Photo: courtesy of the Office of the Prime Minister.