Pause on Tibbitt to Contwoyto road shock for truckers but hunter hopes it’ll help caribou

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-16 20:24:14.0
Tags: [National, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Environment]

The owners of the Ekati, Gahcho Kué, and Diavik diamond mines in the Northwest Territories, alongside trucking stakeholders, have agreed not to construct or operate the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road for the upcoming winter season due to winding down diamond mine production. The suspension of the ice highway—which connects the end of the Ingraham Trail to the mine sites—will significantly impact northern truckers' revenues and local businesses such as Harley's Hardrock Saloon in Yellowknife. Conversely, local hunters and wildlife advocates express hope that the closure will reduce easy access for overhunting and vehicle-related caribou mortality, allowing regional caribou populations and migration patterns to recover.