Up there: The bridge that was never used

Governments are usually not in the business of building bridges that don’t get used.

In Prime Minister Mark Carney’s March 12th, 2026, announcement of additional federal funding for Arctic infrastructure, major corridor initiatives—including the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, and the Grays Bay Road and Port project—captured most of the attention. Buried in the details, however, is a fascinating lesser-known project that demonstrates just how unique and complex linear infrastructure in the North can be. That project is the Oscar Creek Bridge.

The bridge is located along the seasonal Mackenzie Valley Winter Road approximately 35 kilometres northwest of Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories. This winter road is essential to connecting Sahtu communities and supporting regional industry from December through March each year.

The 66-metre, single-lane steel bridge was constructed in 2005. Its purpose was straightforward: extend the winter road season and provide a safer, more reliable crossing of Oscar Creek.

But it was never used.

Like many waterways in the region, the Oscar Creek meanders and where the bridge was built, it meandered too much, too quick. The creek effectively moved toward the south road approach, literally undermining the structure.

Before its opening day, the Government of the Northwest Territories declared the bridge out of service.

Appreciating the significance of the issue, the Government of the Northwest Territories engaged K’alo-Stantec, a majority Sahtu beneficiary-owned firm, to explore potential solutions. The approach they proposed was unconventional but practical.

Move it. 

To be more specific, disassemble it, move it three kilometres to a straighter segment of the creek, and reassemble it. The relocation project will also include a new winter road alignment on both sides of the bridge, two additional tributary crossings, and rebuilt abutments and approaches.

Now, back to our Prime Minister’s recent announcement. In the fine print it includes funding to finally complete the Oscar Creek Bridge relocation project.

The Oscar Creek Bridge sits within the broader context of the Mackenzie Valley Highway; a planned all‑season corridor stretching roughly 800 kilometres from Wrigley to Inuvik. The project is expected to be delivered in two phases.

The first phase of the Mackenzie Valley Highway project will be an all-season gravel road from Wrigley and Norman Wells, approximately 321 kilometres. Phase two is an extension of the road from Norman Wells to Inuvik, approximately 479 kilometres. The design of phase one is significantly more advanced than phase two, so it stands to reason that construction of phase two is many years behind phase one. The location of the Oscar Creek Bridge effectively places it in the phase two corridor. So, one could argue it now needs to wait in line.

Herein is the rationale for the Government of Canada to fund relocating the Oscar Creek Bridge without delay. With some forethought and ingenuity, the bridge in its new location will become a permanent part of phase two of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. We don’t need to worry about it not being used again, again.

The Sahtu region is home to 3000 people and a growing and diversifying industrial economy. These good folks have waited too long for the Oscar Creek Bridge in the first instance, and nobody really knows how much longer they would have to wait if the decision was made for them to hold tight until phase two of the Mackenzie Valley Highway was underway.

The decision to dramatically fast-track this small component of phase two of the Mackenzie Valley Highway project is the right one.

The Oscar Creek Bridge project is among many bridge projects to come along the 800-kilometre MacKenzie Valley Highway. The exact number of new bridges is not yet determined but there is sure to be an extensive bridge construction program in the years to come.

What I find so interesting about the story of not just the Oscar Creek Bridge, but the Mackenzie Valley Highway project in general, is the persistence of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the communities along the corridor to make it happen.

I will leave you with this to think about.

In 1958 Prime Minister John Diefenbaker first announced the ‘Roads to Resources’ program. It included what would become the Mackenzie Valley Highway proposal.