3 February 2014
The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road, a joint venture of the North's three diamond mines, opened Thursday January 30. The first loads, dispatched up the ice road from Yellowknife to all three mines, had gross vehicle weights of up to 32,000 kilograms or about half the maximum capacity.
Constructed and operated by Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc., Dominion Diamond Corporation, and De Beers Canada Inc., the winter road (www.jvtcwinterroad.ca) serves as the mines' resupply route.
"The road opened with 78 centimetres (28 inches) of ice. This is in line with previous years' opening thicknesses," said Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture Director Ron Near. Maximum gross vehicle weights of 63,500 kilograms require 99 centimetres (39 inches).
"Companies are planning to transport about 255,000 tonnes or about 7,000 loads this year," he added. 2014 is expected to be the busiest year for the ice road since 2007. Diavik expects to transport nearly 90,000 tonnes, or about 2,700 loads to its mine at Lac de Gras.