NWT’s diamond mine winter road moves into new, uncertain era – Cabin Radio

May 15, 2026

With one of the NWT’s three diamond mines no longer actively mining, one insolvent and a third in financial difficulty, the future of the winter road connecting those mines to Yellowknife is unclear.

The mines have traditionally managed construction and maintenance of the annual Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road through a joint venture.

Rio Tinto, which owns the Diavik mine, was the lead party in that joint venture until recently.

Now that Diavik has entered closure, De Beers – operator of the Gahcho Kué mine – has assumed administrative and financial oversight of the winter road.