Fort Chip gets a new road

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FORT CHIPEWYAN - A long-awaited winter road between the towns of Fort Chipewyan and Fort McMurray will begin construction at the end of September.

An announcement was made August 27 by Transportation and Utilities Minister Al "Boomer" Adair and Fort McMurray MLA Norm Weiss. "The provision of a southerly winter road will be one of the most significant events in the development of the community of Fort Chipewyan," said Weiss.

For many years the residents of Fort Chipewyan wanted a road connecting south. In January, 1986 the residents of this isolated northern community set out to begin work on an abandoned right of way with a caterpillar rented from a Fort McMurray construction.

Michael Cardinal, a Metis resident, is to be credited for his spearheading of this project. Cardinal and another friend were the first to drive a vehicle to Fort McMurray where they would then rent the caterpillar to begin plowing of the abandoned road. Many hours of hard labour were devoted to making this road passable. Being a trapper in the area, Cardinal knew a road was possible in the area.

The route has been used for many years by snowmobile clubs in Fort McMurray and Fort Smith via Fort Chipewyan. January of 1986 saw the first vehicle travel on this road made by the determined residents who proved that it was possible after studies done by the provincial government showed a road was too expensive and not practical enough to be maintained.

After many hours of preparation by Cardinal and several other devoted members of the communities of Fort Chipewyan and Fort McMurray, a convoy of vehicles were also getting set to try the newly built road.

Thirty-five people with 13 vehicles made the trip which was to be a 10-hour trek through frozen lakes and river, creeks and muskeg. Many times the drivers and helpers were outside of the vehicles shoveling snow to get out of ditches.

The trip was made so that steps would be taken by the provincial government to improve and maintain the roughly built road. "Without more work, the road won't be of much use," said a tired Cardinal after making the trip to Fort McMurray.

Access to this northern community on a year round basis is by air. A winter road to Fort Smith is passable throughout the winter months. Via the Athabasca River during the summer, a barge serves as a mean means of transport for many residents and businesses who transport everything from vehicles to food. Any of these means of transporting freight is done at an extremely high cost to the community.

With the announcement on August 27, people in this community have become somewhat excited and pleased to hear that steps have been taken and that they now will have a link south. As compared to the usual drive to Edmonton through Fort Smith, a trip south from Fort Chipewyan to Edmonton would now save as many as eleven hours of driving.

"Costs would be much cheaper now, not only for the residents but also the businesses,"said Chief Rita Marten of the Fort Chipewyan Cree Indian Band. "It is a good idea. I mean our shopping will be much cheaper and we would be able to purchase quality stuff and get a better selection."

Maureen Clarke, secretary for the Tourism Council in the community say "the general feeling of the community is an excited one, because this is our first link to the south." Also concerned about freight costs, Clarke runs a restaurant and is quite glad to know that costs will now be reduced.

Construction is expected to begin at the end of September with the widening of the existing trails. Once the lakes, creeks and rivers are frozen, the river crossings, a road on Lake Athabasca and other water courses will be the concentration of the building team.

The road will run south of Fort Chipewyan to connect to a road that will run north of Fort McKay. The majority of time this winter will be spent improving stream crossings along the route and to open and maintain the road. It is projected that the road will be in operatin by Christmas.

As a southern access during the winter months the road will provide the residents of Fort Chipewyan an opportunity to avoid the extremely high costs of shipping their everyday needed items and will definitely be a time saver on travel south.