Drivers on the Alaska Highway in part of Whitehorse have been directed by law to slow down.
Today, the Yukon government reduced the speed limit on the Alaska Highway within a large part of Whitehorse. The new, lower speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour applies from the Two Mile Hill intersection through to the Kulan industrial area. Areas with a lower speed limit will not see the limit increased.
“The Alaska Highway through Whitehorse is not only an international highway, it is a vital link for local transportation, including people commuting to work and school in cars, on bikes, and as pedestrians and passengers,” the government said in a statement.
“Improving safety for all road users on this route is a priority for the Government of Yukon.”
The Department of Highways and Public Works is working closely with road safety experts to conduct a Road Safety Review of the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse. The review, initiated in July 2023, included recommended ways to address identified safety issues. The review is almost complete and will be made available to the public soon.
In addition to these actions, this spring, the department began work to plan a multi-use pathway along the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse. There is a tender out for this study, which is scheduled to begin in August.
The government is also developing Yukon-specific design guidelines for active transportation that will help build infrastructure that is safe and accessible for all Yukoners.
Together, the government said, these actions will improve road safety conditions for all of the Yukon’s road users.
“Ensuring the safety of everyone on our roads is the top priority for the Department of Highways and Public Works,” said Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke.
“Lowering speed limits and building active transportation infrastructure are just some of the ways that we can make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.
“As a cyclist, I know firsthand how critically important it is to feel safe when using the roads, and how difficult that can be in high-traffic, high-speed areas.
“Yukoners and our cycling community have suffered a great loss recently, and it is our responsibility as government to continue to make our roads safer for everyone.”
Joe Morrison, a teacher at Holy Family Elementary School in Porter Creek, died after being struck while riding his bicycle through Rabbit’s Foot Canyon on the morning of June 13. The driver of the car fled the scene and has not been located by the RCMP, though the vehicle has been.
The government has been working to implement safety improvements on the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse since 2016.
Recent projects completed include new pedestrian-activated traffic signals at Burns Road and Hillcrest Drive; a paved, separated, multi-use trail for continuous active transportation from Robert Service Way to Two Mile Hill; and upgraded pedestrian-activated signs in Porter Creek.
