The territory’s plans to upgrade the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse could cost more than $200 million when all is said and done, beginning with an initial $52 million to be spent on the first phase.

That will involve the section of highway a little south of Robert Service Way to just north of Two Mile Hill.

It will include widening the road to four lanes, upgrading current intersections and putting in new ones, as well as creating new frontage roads to provide safer access to the highway.

The plans were outlined at a media briefing this morning with officials from CH2M HILL Canada Ltd. outlining the plan they were contracted by the Yukon government to come up with.

The goal is to address issues around safety and traffic congestions in light of the rising Whitehorse population of 24 per cent (to reach 28,000) over the last decade.

The public input phase for the overall plan kicked off today and will continue until May 15.

A website, mail-out survey to all Yukoners, phone number, email address and public open houses are all being used to collect thoughts on the project from residents of the territory.

Work on the Whitehorse corridor actually began in 2011 with a number of Yukon government studies on road safety, environment and highway capacity.

CH2M was eventually contracted to do the functional plan on improvements needed for the highway through Whitehorse to bring it up to current standards and guidelines. Government officials did not have the cost of the contract available at this morning’s briefing.

The plan breaks the highway corridor into 10 segments outlining which segments would have priority, what work would be needed for each and a cost- benefit analysis for each section.

High-priority sections – and the estimated cost of $52 million – would see work done over the next five years.

Medium priority areas – north of Two Mile Hill to just north of Kathleen Road – would be needed by the time the city’s population reaches 35,000 (expected around 2031 based on a population growth of two per cent). It’s estimated the medium-term work would cost $50 million

Finally, long-term improvements would include sections just south of Gentian Lane to McLean Lake Road and from north of Kathleen Road to the city’s northern boundary. Those improvements would cost an estimated $100 million and be needed as the population reaches 47,000.

“The timing for the longer-term improvements will be considered as the population approaches this parameter,” notes a brochure on the plan.

As Mike Howes, the project manager on the plan with CH2M, told reporters this morning, much of the work along the highway will involve widening it to four lanes or, in some sections, putting in passing lanes.

While most of the work can be done within the highway corridor, he acknowledged there will have to be “some negotiations” with certain property owners who have land fronting the highway.

He did not have the estimate on how much it will cost to buy certain chunks of the private property to accommodate the road work, but noted the cost was included in the overall estimates of the project.

In areas where a frontage road is added, there could be driveways shortened, Howes said.

Drivers would then access the frontage road before going into a common area entrance to the highway.

“How they access the highway is changed slightly,” he said.

Along with the widening, putting in of medians, upgraded intersections and other improvements directly to the highway, there are also plans for a full multi-use trail running parallel to the highway and linking with the city’s trail network.

“The type and usage of the trail segments will be considered in future phases of the project, as will the design of cycling and pedestrian facilities,” notes the brochure on the plans.

The draft plan outlines the technical information on how to make the highway safer.

However, as Howes noted in the public input portion of the project, there could be non-technical information that comes forward that might impact plans, and that’s what officials are looking for now.

After the public input period concludes in May, the plan will be refined.

It’s expected the plan will be finalized and go through an environmental assessment in the fall.

Then, in 2016, construction will begin on the highest-priority sections.

The project website is www.placespeak.com/whitehorsecorridor.

A mail-out survey is also being sent to all Yukon homes and public open houses are scheduled at the Yukon Transportation Museum from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 22-24 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 25.

Comments can also be submitted by calling 1-866-692-4484 or by emailing whitehorsecorridorinfo@ch2m.com

“We encourage all Yukoners to review the proposed plan for the corridor and provide feedback on this important guiding document,” said Premier Darrell Pasloski.

“We would like to hear your thoughts on safety and traffic flow, as well as on the proposed implementation plan.”

“The overall objective of the Whitehorse corridor functional plan is the development of a solution to address the existing safety and capacity needs, as well as to provide a strategy to meet the needs of a growing population and economy,” said Highways and Public Works Minister Scott Kent.

“Input and comments received will contribute to the refinement and details for the final corridor design.”