Mackenzie Valley Highway

The Mackenzie Valley Highway is a major, nation-building project that is expected to improve regional mobility, enhance transportation resilience, stabilize the cost of living, support long-term economic development, and strengthen Arctic security and sovereignty.

The Mackenzie Valley Highway is an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, security and economic resilience.

For the Northwest Territories, the benefits of the Mackenzie Valley Highway are many. 

It will:

• provide dependable year‑round access to communities.
• help stabilize the cost of living.
• support local jobs and long-term economic growth.
• improve safety and emergency response.

Overall, the Mackenzie Valley Highway is a long‑term investment in safer travel, stronger communities, and a more connected North.

The project is being advanced in two phases:

1. Phase 1 – Wrigley to Norman Wells, through Tulita
2. Phase 2 – Norman Wells to Inuvik

• Key Partners: Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated (SSI), Pehdzeh Ki First Nation (PKFN), Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) 
• Region: Dehcho, Sahtu and Gwich’in
• Status:  
  • Phase 1 – Currently in Environmental Assessment (EA) 
  • Phase 2 – Preliminary planning 
• Phase: Planning & Design
• Capacity: ~321 km two-lane gravel all-season highway
• Timeframe: Multi-year; construction will span several years. With referral to the Major Projects Office in March 2026, construction timelines originally proposed for the project will be streamlined in an effort to get this mega project completed in a timely manner.
• Funding sources: 
  • $140 M from the Government of Canada (National Trade Corridors Fund) and GNWT 
    • Phase 1 MVH Environmental Assessment and Planning Studies 
    • Wrigley Bypass and Hodgson Creek Bridge – Planning, design, and regulatory 
    • Smith Creek Bridge – Planning, design, and regulatory
    • Highway 1 Targeted Resurfacing (N’Dulee to Wrigley) Construction
    • Oscar Creek Bridge Relocation Construction
• $28 M from the Government of Canada (Investing in Canada Program)
  • Prohibition Creek Access Road – Phase 1 Planning and Construction

What’s happening now 

Phase 1 of the Mackenzie Valley Highway project (Wrigley to Norman Wells) is currently undergoing Environmental Assessment (EA) by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. The EA is in the Analytical phase, which includes public review, formal information requests, and community and technical sessions. The GNWT is preparing a Developer’s Assessment Report Addendum (DARA) for submission to the Review Board later this summer, after which time the project can be referred to Public Hearings. Engineering and design work continues, as well as engagement with communities and stakeholders, and Consultation with Indigenous governments and Indigenous Organizations.

Current Status

• Environmental Assessment ongoing; Developer’s Assessment Report submitted October 2023.
• Engagement underway with Sahtú and Dehcho communities, Indigenous governments, and regulators.
• 20.7 km of road completed since 2018 through community capacity-building projects.

Next Steps

• 2026: Review Board Report of Environmental Assessment and Responsible Ministers’ decision. Ongoing engagement, assessment work, and updates to the MVH Business Case to integrate Phase 2 of the project
• 2027–2028: Regulatory permitting, design refinement, detailed costing, and identification of construction funding opportunities (construction decision contingent on these steps).