This illustrated paper provides an overview of the physical, social and economic factors which influence transportation planning in Canada's Northwest Territories, (NWT) and draws some comparisons with the situation in Australia's Northern Territory. In an area of some 3.3 million square kilometres there are only 2500 km of all-weather road and 2000 km of winter road to serve a population of 53,000 scattered around in 62 communities varying in size from 13,000 to 11 people. This means that air and marine facilities are important components of the transportation infrastructure in the NWT. Bulk goods and the fuel oil supply for communities not on the road network are generally supplied by sealift, or in the case of inland locations, by air. The physical, political and financial constraints affecting transportation planning, especially roads, in the Northwest Territories, are described. These include the severe winter weather, and the lack of commitment of Federal funding towards development of this underdeveloped area. The Government of the Northwest Territories has recently completed a comprehensive needs survey, and analysis, to determine the priorities for transportation infrastructure developments over the next twenty years. The results of this process are outlined in this paper (A).
Abstract