Churchill is connected to the rest of the world once again, at least until spring.
An ice road has been built from Churchill to Gillam, covering about 300 km of frozen swamps, rivers and streams.
The road was a joint venture between two Churchill-based groups and Springfield, Man.-based Polar Industries, a company that specializes in ice road construction and northern transport.
Trucks have already begun transporting goods to Churchill. The first truckload is estimated to reach the community on Dec. 20. Polar Industries is aiming to ship more than 27,000 kilograms of goods per shipment by January.
Construction on the road began on Nov. 13. The road will be restricted to shipping and transport vehicles. A delivery to the community on the new road is estimated to take between 30 and 36 hours.
The road is likely to stay in operation until spring thaw.
Churchill has been cut off from the rest of the province by land since May, when overland flooding washed away portions of the town’s rail line. Ever since then, Omnitrax Ltd., the company that owns the mine, has avoided fixing the line or paying for necessary repairs. Churchill has only been accessible by air since the line was shut down.
The federal government has announced plans to sue Omnitrax for breach of contract, while Omnitrax has publicly discussed the idea of filing a complaint against the government under NAFTA.
While the legal wrangling between the federal government and Omnitrax continues, the cost of everyday necessities, such as food and gas, has skyrocketed in Churchill.
The Manitoba Métis Federation brought 110 Christmas hampers to the community by plane last weekend, including turkeys, potatoes, vegetables and other holiday staples, as well as toys and other goods becoming scarce in the town.
