The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) has recommended that the Alaska Highway Safety Improvement project be allowed to proceed as proposed. The Department of Highways and Public Works received the project evaluation report from YESAB on May 1, 2020.
“The Alaska Highway is a critical route for all Yukoners. The highway upgrades will slow traffic and increase safety for all users in the Whitehorse area. YESAB’s evaluation report is a testament to the strong work of our design team and we look forward to sharing the monitoring results with Yukoners,” said Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn.
YESAB is also requesting effects monitoring once the project is complete including speed monitoring; usage analysis by vehicles and vulnerable road users; an audit of the Department’s comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to collision prevention; and a report detailing changes in the new Motor Vehicles Act aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users.
The Department of Highways and Public Works is committing to undertaking the requested effects monitoring, which will contribute to ongoing work to better understand who, how, and when roads are used. This data will inform future project designs for all Yukoners.
Safety improvements on the Alaska Highway include two new signalized intersections between Lodestar Lane and Range Road, which will reduce speeds and give vulnerable road users a safe opportunity to cross. New paved multi-use trails will connect to the city’s growing trail network and the closure of unsafe accesses will reduce the risk of collisions.
Construction on Phase 1 will start this summer.
