Inuvik to Tuk ice road’s last year commemorated Thursday

After more than 40 years in operation, the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk is set to close for good.

Without an all-season highway, Tuktoyaktuk has had to rely on an ice road during the winter and flights during warmer months.

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But that’s all about to change.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has been working to construct a highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk to replace the seasonal ice road.

That highway is set to open on November 15 at a cost of $299 million.

The ice road is expected to close permanently in the coming week or two. To commemorate, a ceremony was held at Kitti Hall in Tuktoyaktuk on Thursday night.

The celebration included a feast, Inuvialuit drum dancing, snow sculptures and polar dipping.

Take a look at some of the celebrations (photos provided by the GNWT):

Mayor of Tuktoyaktuk Darrel Nasogaluak during the ceremony. (Photo provided by the GNWT.)

Herbert Nakimayak, Nunakput MLA during the ceremony. (Photo provided by the GNWT.)