Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk highway to see half-day closures

For the next couple of days, the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk highway is expected to be closed 12 hours per day. According to Merle Carpenter, regional superintendent for the Beaufort Delta region, the road will be open from midnight until noon, but closed from noon until midnight.

This is to limit road use to cooler nighttime hours when the road will be at its firmest, although as of Friday at 2 p.m., the road was open for travel.

Earlier Friday, the Department of Infrastructure told travellers to expect intermittent closures of the highway because of muddy, slushy spring road conditions. Carpenter said the spring thaw coupled with the newness of the highway makes the temporary closures unsurprising.

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Not discouraged

Karlina See Kee is an Australian tourist making her second attempt to visit Tuktoyaktuk. She first tried earlier in April, but the highway was closed because of a blizzard. She won't let the temporary road schedule shut her down.

"I just think there is always a way to get around things when they are difficult," See Kee said. "It's going to be worth it — it's one of the most northern places you can go so I think it will be a reward in itself to get there."

Once the road has dried out and conditions have improved road construction is expected to get under way, probably by June, to complete work that went unfinished last year.

There are approximately 40 kms of road work to be completed.