Yukon funds road upgrade to mountain biking trails

A large section of rough mountain road leading to hiking and biking trails in Carcross is as good as new, thanks to money from an unlikely source.

Usually funding in the Yukon government's Resource Access Road Program goes to mining roads, but for the first time a road used primarily for tourism isbenefiting. The Montana Mountain road was one of five projects approved this year under the program.

MarshaCameron withBorealeMountain Biking said the road had "a lot of big rocks, a lot of dips;there were two little creek crossings that would just eat the road."

TheCarcrossTagishFirst Nationpartnered with the territorial government to do $60,000 in upgrades to the Montana Mountain road.

"For the longest time only the biggest 4x4scould get up there and most recently the road was re-graded so in fact common people in common cars can now get up there for tourism," said Justin Ferbeywith the First Nation.

The road now has better drainage and culverts to help protect it from spring run-off.

"It means we can come up here more often,"said Cameron. "It was a huge liability before to come up, you're bouncing around, it was very difficult on the infrastructure for your company."

Now, says Cameron,"It's just super smooth and nice and it just increases the access for us."

Cameron said sheis also happy the road improvements make it easier for Yukoners to enjoythe mountain.