Yukon's highway minister has attributed deteriorating conditions on the North Klondike Highway to chronic underfunding and rising maintenance costs. Travelers report rough washboard surfaces and potholes along the key route between Whitehorse and Dawson City.
The North Klondike Highway serves as the main paved link connecting Whitehorse and Dawson City over roughly 330 miles. Recent accounts from motorists describe challenging travel conditions marked by uneven surfaces.
Tourist Jack Hamlin told the CBC that the journey became difficult after leaving Whitehorse. He noted washboard sections that caused items inside his motorhome to rattle loudly, comparing the sound to an old drum set from the 1980s, and said he had to swerve around potholes while monitoring oncoming traffic.
Highway minister Linda Benoit cited chronic underfunding as the primary cause. She pointed to increased expenses for upkeep amid broader economic pressures affecting road maintenance across northern regions.