Yukon considers Alaska Highway upgrade in Whitehorse

The Yukon government is considering twinning parts of the Alaska Highway corridor through Whitehorse.

A growing population, increased traffic, and safety concerns prompted planners to consider twinning the highway between the Carcross Cutoff and the Mayo Road.

Allan Nixon, who heads the transportation division for Highways and Public Works, says the department has spent around $500,000 on a draft plan for the corridor and test drilling along the road bed.

"I can see some sections of the Alaska Highway corridor that will need four lanes and other sections that won't need four lanes as long as we have adequate passing lanes and other ways of dealing with those things so it's four lanes if necessary but not necessarily four lanes," Nixon says.

Growing number of complaints from commuters who use highway each day

Nixon says the re-construction will be a long term project covering the 30 kilometres between the intersection with the South Klondike Highway on the south side of Whitehorse and the intersection with the North Klondike Highway on the north side of the city.

He says over the past five years the number of complaints from the hundreds of commuters on the highway each day have grown.

The section that runs through Whitehorse has no passing lanes, and many of the intersections are not safe.

Nixon says a burst of economic activity could add to the congestion.

"Especially if we get another mining project come on board from north of town we are going to have traffic issues, so we are trying to be proactive and try an get out in front of that." he says.

Nixon adds a public consultation period is planned to help identify areas of most critical need.