There’s an urgent need to address “the sorry state” of the Yukon side of the Dempster Highway, a Yukon Party MLA said Thursday.

Geraldine Van Bibber said she has been bringing the problems to the government’s attention for years through questions in the legislative assembly, a June 2023 letter to Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke, and statements to the media.

“The minister only responded that 10 kilometres of the road has been repaired,” the Yukon Party said.

The Dempster Highway, 740 kilometres of unpaved road, is a vital link for the communities it serves, enabling the transportation of goods, services and residents, while attracting tourists from around the globe. It officially opened in 1979.

“During a one-week span in June, there were two collisions on the highway; one of them unfortunately fatal,” said Van Bibber, her party’s tourism critic. The deceased had been driving a motorcycle.

“As motorists have long indicated, the Liberal government is not doing the bare minimum to upkeep this important Yukon highway,” she added.

“Many Northwest Territories residents drive the highway to pick up supplies regardless of the time of year, and the summer season sees tourists trying to navigate this unstable, narrow highway.”

Van Bibber said the problems, which include potholes, washboarding and sloppy mud during wet weather, simply cannot continue.

“I am calling on the minister to tell Yukoners and residents of the Mackenzie Delta how his Liberal government plans to make the highway safer to drive, and when the repairs will take place,” she said.

Responding to Van Bibber’s concerns, cabinet communications staff said in a statement Thursday afternoon the Dempster attracts many tourists who are not necessarily aware of the challenges the artery can present. The government estimates approximately 50 to 80 vehicles travel the highway daily, many of which are commercial vehicles bearing heavy loads.

Additionally, the Dempster is located entirely on permafrost, which means the ground is constantly shifting – undoing crews’ previous maintenance work.

“Major weather and temperature fluctuations can make the Dempster a challenging drive for even the most experienced of drivers,” the communications staff said.

“For example, under the previous (Yukon Party) government, a 2016 downpour washed out a significant part of the Dempster Highway, resulting in the highway being closed for several days.”

With respect to Van Bibber’s questions about road maintenance, the statement added, “each summer, dedicated teams with the Department of Highways and Public Works grade roads, replace bent or missing snow poles, maintain rest stops, monitor creek levels, inspect culverts, trim brush around corners and signs, assist stranded travellers, and check road conditions to ensure safe travels.”

During the winter, efforts focus on snow removal, using plow trucks, graders, loaders, and snow blowers.

Over the past year, the government spent approximately $7 million on resurfacing and maintenance of the highway. It’s developing a comprehensive plan to identify needed improvements, and is deploying engineers to assess the current state of the road.

It’s also working to secure federal funding for maintenance over the next 20 years. It’s also partnering with Ottawa’s Carleton University to research wind and weather patterns along the highway and proactively closing the Dempster when winds are dangerously high.

Finally, the Eagle River Bridge is being upgraded.

“Rather than continuing their self-acknowledged years-long campaign to discourage tourists from visiting the Yukon to travel the Dempster, we hope that the Yukon Party caucus can recognize and acknowledge the hard work that Highways and Public Works road maintenance crews undertake every day to maintain the highway,” the government statement said.

“Rather than voting against funding road maintenance work and cheering against road maintenance teams’ success, we hope that the official Opposition will work with us and vote in a way that ensures road crews are properly funded, tourists are well-informed about the challenges and beauty of the Dempster, and that residents feel safe using the road.”

Dempster travellers are advised to bring at least two spare tires, a puncture repair kit, extra gas and oil, a first aid kit and anything else needed to be self-sufficient in the remote wilderness.