YELLOWKNIFE, NWT, April 25 – The Northwest Territories government is tabling a proposal to charge tolls to pay for repairs to roads they say have been damaged by heavy trucks throughout winter. Politicians in the area hope the strategy will raise $100 million over the next four years.

Highways superintendent Mike Elgie told The Yellowknifer that record traffic on the Ingraham Trail, which supported almost 8000 truck loads hauling 240,000 tons of mining gear over the winter, is becoming increasingly rough on the pavement.

Assistant deputy transportation minister Doug Howard is doubtful the fees, which would be levied on all loaded commercial vehicles based on weight and distance traveled, would be collected at tollbooths. He said he is looking at toll systems being studied in other parts of Canada, but would not say which collection system the government will settle on.