Canada invests in culverts along Alaska Highway

eAwazLocal News

Fort Nelson – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is committed to protecting the safety of Canadians through ongoing investments and mitigating risks to our infrastructure as a result of climate change.

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract worth over $4.3 million (excluding taxes) to In-Line Contracting Partnership for year 1 of a culvert repair and replacement program on the Alaska Highway. This work involves installing new pipe culverts, repairing and decommissioning existing culverts, installing erosion protection measures, and restoring environmentally disturbed areas.

Between October 2024 and March 2025, repair and replacement work will take place on 10 of the larger culverts located between kilometre (km) 313 and km 507 of the PSPC-maintained portion of the Alaska Highway. This investment will allow new larger culverts to control the increased water flow on the highway caused by climate change and prevent washouts and sinkholes from culverts in poor condition. Traffic will not be impacted as part of this work.

The competitive procurement process for this program also includes an important Indigenous subcontracting component of 15% of the construction cost, which aims to provide meaningful work and economic benefits to Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous firms in the region.

“The Alaska Highway is an important transportation link to the Yukon and northern British Columbia for residents and tourists. Through this program, we are improving the highway infrastructure to better manage water flow and keep this important route safe. This is another example of how the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to invest in our infrastructure to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.” – Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement