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Yukon communities get infrastructure funding boost

Several Yukon communities are getting a bump in infrastructure funding this year to cover sewage and road upgrades.
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Several Yukon communities are getting a bump in infrastructure funding this year to cover sewage and road upgrades.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell announced the $5.8 million in joint funding between Ottawa and the Yukon government on Friday.

The federal government is contributing about 75 per cent, or roughly $4.4 million, to projects in Carmacks, Teslin and Whitehorse while the Yukon government is kicking in $1.5 million for projects in Faro, Watson Lake and Haines Junction.

The City of Whitehorse is receiving $1.25 million to cover the costs of two projects, one to decommission and upgrade groundwater wells in Riverdale and one to complete the McLean Lake Connector road.

Peter O’Blenes, director of infrastructure and operations with the City, said about six wells will be decommissioned in the near future because they’re not being used anymore.

Some of the Riverdale wellheads, which collectively provide all of the City’s drinking water, are being upgraded to prevent surface water from leaking in, O’Blenes said.

The City is also investing in new technology to monitor its drinking water, although no information was provided on what that would be.

Some of the work will be put out to tender shortly, he said, while some will be done internally.

The City also plans to complete the McLean Lake Connector Road, which connects the roundabout at the intersection of Hamilton Boulevard and South Access Road with the McLean Lake Road.

The McLean Lake Road is also accessible via the Lobird Road, which starts on the Alaska Highway.

But the City wants all traffic to the gravel quarry at the end of McLean Lake Road to use the connector instead, O’Blenes said.

“We’ve finished all the engineering and we’re basically shovel-ready on that one,” he said.

Carmacks is receiving $2 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, while Teslin is getting $1.1 million for drainage and road upgrades.

Solid waste management improvements will be carried out in Faro, Watson Lake and Haines Junction as well.

Contact Myles Dolphin at

myles@yukon-news.com