The Whitehorse Star, Monday, May 5, 1969

MILLION DOLLAR REMODELING FOR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC CIRCLE

Tenders for the reconstruction of 18 miles of the Alaska Highway from Mile 909.2 to Mile 928.5 closed on Thursday, May 1, 1969. The lowest bid was $961,584 submitted by Nanaimo Bulldozing Co. Ltd. of Nanaimo B.C. The highest bid was $1,407,536 according to R. K. Coates, District Director of the Canada Department of Public Works at Whitehorse, Y.T. Award of the contract has not been finalized yet; however, construction is expected to commence early this summer.

Reconstruction during the first season this year will make ready the highway for possible paving by early next summer. The finished road will provide for two 12 foot contiguous traffic lanes but the over width of the road top, including shoulders, will be 42 feet wide. In addition to the widening, all the grades will be improved as will be the horizontal curves to provide maximum sight distance.

At the top of Two-Mile Hill, the now most photographed "Welcome to Whitehorse” sign will be removed along with the familiar traffic circle which has served local motorists faithfully since 1953. The rotary intersection is no longer considered adequate for handling the increased traffic volume anticipated. Improvements to the present circle would be expensive and impractical due to its location on the brow of the hill DPW engineer states.

The new cross type intersection to be located just north of the R.C.E. monument will allow a direct access between Valleyview and Takhini. It is intended that a designated cross walk will be provided at this intersection for school children.

At Mile 925, the junction with the Mayo Road will be completely rebuilt to provide for increased traffic capacity and safety. All present accesses to private and commercial establishments along this section will be reconstructed to a standard design.

The first phase of the reconstruction will involve replacement of a large number of culverts, 742,000 cu.yd. of earthwork, 19,500 cu.yds. of rock, 260,000 cu.yds. of sub-base gravel. The road through Rabbits Foot Canyon at Mile 920 will be straightened to include only one gentle curve.

Directly involved in the reconstruction will be J.C. Hudson, Project Engineer, and K.Byram, Area Superintendent. The work is being carried out under the direction of the District Director, R.K. Coates.