The story of Highway 3 this summer was a series of collisions and closures as smoke mixed with fog to create what police called “extremely dangerous conditions.”
Wildfires burned near the road between Fort Providence and Behchokǫ̀ all summer, making Highway 3 extremely difficult to drive at times, while also affecting Highway 9.
Transport trucks ended up in ditches. Sometimes, they hit each other. Sometimes, vehicles – or parts of them – were simply abandoned.
In the legislature on Thursday, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins pitched a means of keeping people informed when conditions are changing fast in areas that have little to no cell service. (Most NWT highways are almost entirely out of cell range.)
Hawkins suggested “giant electronic billboards that you see in southern jurisdictions,” updated using Starlink satellite internet to offer updates “almost in real time” to passing drivers who lack their own connectivity.
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Vince McKay, the NWT’s infrastructure minister, said the territory already does use comparatively small electronic signs in locations like Enterprise and Highway 9’s intersection with Highway 3.
He also pointed to Drive NWT, the territory’s online road conditions service. While Hawkins said Drive NWT can’t always be accessed on the move, McKay said people can at least check it before they travel.
“This summer was obviously another difficult time, with the fires and the smoke and the fog,” the minister said.
“It did cause some issues on our highways with visibility and I hear the member – same concerns I had through this.
“I’ve talked to the department and this is something we’re going to look at. Any recommendations on how we can improve emergency situations like this, I’d be happy to hear them. We are looking at how we can improve this.”
McKay committed to having some form of update – not necessarily on large electronic signs, but on possible improvements – by early next year.
