Northern community growing impatient

A vital transportation route for some communities in Northern Saskatchewan remains unfinished.

The Wollaston Lake Ice Road typically opens in mid-February, but due to the constant freezing and melting conditions, the ice road remains closed, and construction becomes more challenging.

“We had a five-mile crack of existing road the day they were done….there were some people driving across on floating ice blocks,” said Hatchet Lake band councilor Ed Benoanie, discussing an incident from last week.

Benoanie said he is concerned what will happen if they can't finish the road in the next month, and have to start flying in supplies such as fuel.

“You can fly fuel in but right now it is $1.52 per litre, and if we start flying that stuff in, we are going to go over two bucks a litre.”

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He said the community cannot handle such increases.

“With the economy in this community, we have about 65 per cent unemployment, and it is challenging.”

Dan Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Highways, said as work progresses this week, they may have a better idea when the road could open.

“We don't have a specific time line at this point. That will be dependent on the progress,” said Palmer.

nmaxwell@panow.com