FOR RELEASE     #08-212
September 5, 2008

WHITEHORSE – Highways and Public Works has established a permafrost testing site on the Alaska Highway just south of Beaver Creek, Highways and Public Works Minister Archie Lang announced today.

The project is designed to examine the impact of climate change on permafrost and develop strategies for reducing the maintenance and construction costs on highways affected by permafrost.

"Permafrost issues are a challenge to engineers in northern climates and data from this site will assist us in protecting and stabilizing affected areas of our infrastructure," Lang said. "This will assist us in keeping Yukon highways up to the standards that Yukoners have come to expect."

The project is being done in partnership with the US Federal Highways Administration, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Transport Canada, Alaska University Transportation Centre and Universitè Laval.

"Researching and developing adaptation strategies is a critical part of how Yukon is dealing with climate change," Environment Minister Elaine Taylor added. "This project will add to the many actions the government is already taking as we move forward."

Preparation for the Beaver Creek site began in spring and instrumentation to measure ground temperatures has now been installed. Monitoring, data analysis and reporting will be ongoing over the next five years.

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