Winter road closes to traffic

A Nuna Logistics snowplough clears snow from the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road earlier this winter. - photo courtesy of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Joint Venture

Winter road closes to traffic

http://ow.ly/1rIPB

[excerpt]

Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Published Friday, March 26, 2010

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road - the principal means by which the NWT's three diamond mines are resupplied over the winter season - closed to all traffic on Wednesday.

Total number of loads on winter road, including backhauls 2010: 3,930 (total tonnage unknown) 2009: 5,377 (173,195 tonnes) 2008: 8,374 (245,585 tonnes) 2007: 11,740 (330,002 tonnes) 2006: 7,310 (177,674 tonnes) 2005: 7,850 (252,522 tonnes) 2004: 5,256 (179,144 tonnes) 2003: 6,126 (198,818 tonnes) 2002: 8,168 (265,915 tonnes) 2001: 8,182 (245,586 tonnes) 2000: 3,838 (111,090 tonnes) 1999: 1,861 (tonnage not available) 1998: 2,533 (tonnage not available) 1997: 3,512 (tonnage not available)

In total, 3,506 loads of fuel, cement and other supplies weighing 121,000 tonnes were carried up the road by trucks travelling to the Diavik, Ekati and Snap Lake diamond mines – in line with earlier estimates. An additional 424 backhauls – loads coming back from the mines – were transported.

"Overall it was a success. We had no accidents this year," said Erik Madsen, director of winter road operations for Diavik Diamond Mines Inc.

The total number of northbound loads and backhauls has declined every year since 2007, a record season during which the joint venture recorded 11,740 loads (including backhauls) weighing 330,002 tonnes.