Transportation Study Media Release

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 13, 2012

McIntyre Creek waters less troubled

The Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) and the Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) are delighted to learn that the City of Whitehorse will not be pursuing the development of a road across McIntyre Creek as part of the Whistle Bend subdivision. 

According to the results of a Transportation Study released on July 13, 2012 by the City of Whitehorse, the proposed road across McIntyre Creek that would connect Mountainview Drive with the Alaska Highway is not needed to accommodate increased traffic as a result of a growing population in Whistle Bend.  The Study concluded that a road across McIntyre Creek would not make a significant difference, as most of the traffic from Whistle Bend will travel south along Mountainview Drive to reach downtown Whitehorse.

“We’ve questioned the need for a road across McIntyre Creek since the very beginning”, said YCS Wildlife Coordinator, Christina Macdonald.  “We’re very pleased to see that the City has taken the time to collect the necessary information to make the right decision about a development that would have had massive implications for quality of life and wildlife in the area.”

The City intends to continue to move forward with planning and engineering pre-design work for the proposed Porter Creek-D neighbourhood in Middle McIntyre Creek, south of the existing Porter Creek neighbourhood and between Mountainview Drive and the Alaska Highway.   

“It’s still a big question in our minds whether the City even needs Porter Creek-D”, said FOMC President, Dorothy Bradley.  “There are twice as many housing units available today than there were at this time last year, mining activity is slowing and the Tank Farm is now being seriously considered for residential development.  I think what this demonstrates is that there are still significant information gaps that need to be filled before any decisions can be made regarding Porter Creek-D, and that there are many different, better solutions for development in our city.”

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For more info contact:

Christina Macdonald Wildlife Coordinator Yukon Conservation Society 867 668-5678

Dorothy Bradley President Friends of McIntyre Creek 867 332-3771