Canada: Dempster Highway 8 between Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory, and Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, closed for maintenance, as of Sept. 5

Event

Authorities have closed Dempster Highway 8 between Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory, and Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, as of Sept. 5, due to unspecified issues with the Eagle River Bridge. One government source indicates that the bridge may take until the end of September to reopen. The Dempster Highway is the only road between Yukon and the Northwest Territory and the only land route to Inuvik; without it, Inuvik is only accessible by plane, river barges on the MacKenzie River, or sea lift via the Arctic Ocean.

Business disruptions are likely to companies dependent on trucking goods via the Dempster Highway. Transit disruptions are also likely until the bridge reopens.

Eagle Plain is approximately 268 km (166 miles) south-southwest of Inuvik. Fort McPherson is approximately 114 km (71 miles) south-southwest of Inuvik.

Advice

Plan for alternative transportation if moving goods or transiting between Yukon and the Northwest Territories.