The Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure closed Highway 10 between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, on March 20, 2026. This closure stops all road travel in and out of the community, which relies on the 138-kilometre gravel road for supplies and medical travel.
The hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk is home to about 965 people and is the northernmost community in Canada connected to the national road network. Residents are being told to expect delays in getting food and other essential items until the road can be reopened.
Local leaders say these frequent closures cause problems for the town’s main grocery store, Stanton Group Ltd., which brings in goods by truck from Inuvik. When the highway is shut down, the store often runs low on fresh food and medicine, forcing the community to rely on expensive air cargo.
The highway has faced several closures since it first opened in 2017 due to heavy snow accumulation and spring melting conditions. The territorial and federal governments have allocated $14 million toward fixing the road by raising low sections and improving drainage to help keep the route open.
Minister of Infrastructure Vince McKay said the government has purchased new industrial snow-clearing machines to help deal with the large snow drifts. For now, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and local officials continue to monitor how the closure affects the community.
