The difference of opinion is small in the case of Yukoners’ perspectives on the territorial government’s proposed Alaska Highway upgrades to the Whitehorse corridor.

The government released its report last week, summarizing the responses from 60 days of public consultation earlier this year.

While the report, prepared by engineering firm CH2M Hill, states that Yukoners are “generally in favour” of the $200-million highway plans, it’s not by much.

Forty-five per cent of respondents agreed that the initiative balances local and regional transportation needs, while 39 per cent disagreed.

The remaining 16 per cent either didn’t answer the question or were unsure.

A majority of survey respondents supported the idea of enhancing the multi-use trail near the airport and improving highways for cyclists and pedestrians.

In terms of whether the project will address congestion and travel times on the highway, the vote was split – 40 per cent agreeing, and 40 per cent disagreeing.

“Many respondents are of the view that congestion and travel times are not an issue on the Whitehorse Corridor,” the report states.

“Several respondents expressed concern about whether the proposed $200-million investment in highway improvements is justified.”

The 40-kilometre corridor was divided into 10 sections, each ranked by priority.

The sections start south of the Klondike Highway turnoff to Carcross, run through Whitehorse and end just north of the turnoff to Dawson City.

The sections identified as “immediate” priority start at Lobird Road, near Robert Service Way (formerly the South Access Road), and run through past the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport and end just north of Two Mile Hill Road.

These sections are estimated to cost $52 million and be completed in the next five years.

“There are divergent views on what, if any, improvements should be undertaken, with perspectives usually depending on the circumstances faced by a particular landowner,” the report states.

The proposal suggests widening the Alaska Highway to four lanes along some stretches, adding passing lanes, improving intersections and enhancing use of the multi-use trail near the airport.

In the immediate-priority sections, several business owners near the airport expressed concern earlier this year at the prospect of widening the highway.

The government held 37 one-on-one meetings with landowners whose land could be directly impacted by the changes as well as stakeholders who requested a meeting.

“Area business owners are opposed to the plan and say it’s too much, too complicated and too costly,” Lois Moorcroft, the NDP’s Highways and Public Works critic, said in the legislature earlier this year.

“They think the $202-million plan responds to a problem that doesn’t exist.”

The What We Heard document on the Yukon government’s website already has more than 2,000 views – while only 488 survey submissions and 62 email submissions were received to comprise the report.

“The Yukon government heard from Yukoners and will now use that feedback to refine the draft plan,” said Scott Kent, the minister of Highways and Public Works.

Kent said in a statement last week that no road work will be undertaken until the project is “re-prioritized” and further engagement with some stakeholders has taken place – unless it is work that was deemed necessary due to safety concerns.

It is unclear from the What We Heard document which aspects may have been deemed “necessary” to safety.

The minister was unavailable to comment before today’s press deadline.

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

The goal of the highway upgrade is to address issues around safety and traffic congestions in the midst of a rising Whitehorse population – now close to 28,000 – of 24 per cent over the last decade.