Hauling the last load of crush signified the end of a project that consumed Kurt WainmanSA国际影视传媒檚 life for the past five years.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like someone took a 100-pound dumbbell off my shoulders and threw it aside when that last load went down,SA国际影视传媒� said the owner of Northwind Industries, which was charged as part of EGT-Northwind (E Gruben Transport and Northwind Industries) with leading the construction of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway.

Wainman, born and raised in Inuvik, said the highway has been his entire life, inseparable from other life events during that same time.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been a challenging five years,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e lost quite a few friends and key family members that passed away. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a long challenge.SA国际影视传媒�

His description of the 137-km drive would make anyone eager to get on the road, which officially opens Nov. 15.

SA国际影视传媒淭he way I see the highway, there are two ways to look at it, north and south,SA国际影视传媒� said Wainman.

Leaving Inuvik, drivers take a long climb up hills before seeing the delta stretch out before them across the horizon. The Mackenzie River sits to the left, while drivers begin to see the long Husky Lakes to the right.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 beautiful all the way to Tuk,SA国际影视传媒� said Wainman, adding that the drive is similar to the Dempster Highway but has more hills and rollers.

SA国际影视传媒淭hen you turn around and on your way backSA国际影视传媒� you look to the right, which you never saw before, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 all the Richardson Mountains and you start realizing there are two views to this highway and itSA国际影视传媒檚 beautiful both ways. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 nice because on the south (route), youSA国际影视传媒檙e coming back and all of a sudden these mountains come out of nowhere. You donSA国际影视传媒檛 really notice them when you come (north) because theySA国际影视传媒檙e on the far left when youSA国际影视传媒檙e driving.SA国际影视传媒�

The drive takes about two hours. The speed limit is 70 km/h.

At the height of construction, Northwind had 250 people working for the company. It normally employs about 40 to 45.

Wainman said his hiring practice is based on regional circles. First, he tries to hire from Inuvik, then he hires from the region and finally he expands the circle to the Dawson City and Whitehorse area.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was the only thing going for four years here so it kept a lot of people busy,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t kept a lot of businesses going. I think every business in town in one way or another was affected with work on the ITH. Now that itSA国际影视传媒檚 come to an end, weSA国际影视传媒檒l just have to find something more to do somewhere else.SA国际影视传媒�

The $229.3 million contract was the largest job Northwind has ever received.

Wainman said the company will go back to chasing after maintenance contracts and any other opportunities around town, recognizing things might slow down for a period.

He hopes the original moniker for the highway SA国际影视传媒� The Road to Resources SA国际影视传媒� comes true sometime in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淚t opens up a whole new country for us,SA国际影视传媒� said Wainman, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuvialuit. SA国际影视传媒淣ow we can travel on our own land.SA国际影视传媒�