Thank you, Mr. Chair. The GNWT highway network is expected twice yearly to confirm the status and condition of the network. The condition reports, along with information from daily operation and maintenance work and inspections, inform the development of Infrastructure's 20-year needs assessment and assist with the prioritization of projects proposed for capital investment across the GNWT. Over the past five years, surface and drainage improvements have been completed on the two highways totalling $1.27 million, and I think there was a question on the Sambaa K'e access road, as well.
The priority and continued investment in access roads is identified in the department of infrastructure transportation strategy 2020 as well as within the mandate of the 18th Assembly. New access roads, such as completed Canyon Creek access road and the proposed Mount Gaudet access road, are an example of recent development towards a broader strategy towards developing the Mackenzie Valley highway.
With respect to Sambaa K'e access road, since March 2019, the Department of Infrastructure has been working with the community of Sambaa K'e to reduce the grade on Paradise Hill to the Sambaa K'e access road through an annual O and M. I understand they stockpile material onsite so they're within the burn area. It could be between kilometres 70 and 100. It could be accessed. That's some of the information that we have there, Mr. Chair.