Yellowknife, you’re going to hate this construction update

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]City officials now say a stretch of Yellowknife’s busiest road, Franklin Avenue, will be completely closed to traffic for three weeks in late May and early June.

The City of Yellowknife has already publicized 16 construction projects happening this summer, with the continuation of water and sewer work beneath Franklin Avenue among them.

However, the City’s engineering manager – Wendy Alexander – revealed for the first time on Thursday that this will include a full shutdown of the road for several weeks, and a lengthy detour.

“Definitely there are going to be delays on Franklin,” Alexander told Mornings at the Cabin.

“I will forewarn you Franklin will be completely closed at Reservoir Road for approximately three weeks starting at the end of May.

“There will be a major detour in place for that and we do ask for patience during that detour.”

Cabin Radio understands Franklin Avenue’s closure will stretch from Reservoir Road to Forrest Drive – in other words, from the Tommy Forrest Ballpark to the CBC.

The detour along Forrest Drive is a simple one, but will involve squeezing four-lane traffic into a narrower system of residential roads peppered with stop signs.

May 27 is the tentative first day for the full closure, with June 17 potentially the date on which Franklin will at least partially reopen.

Even then, there will be lane closures as per last year’s construction season throughout this summer, until mid-September.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]