British Columbia Highway 77 Northwest Territories Highway 7 | |||||||
Route information | |||||||
Length | 393 km (244 mi) | ||||||
Existed | 1984–present | ||||||
British Columbia Highway 77 | |||||||
Length | 138 km[1] (86 mi) | ||||||
South end | ![]() | ||||||
North end | BC-NWT border | ||||||
Northwest Territories Highway 7 | |||||||
Length | 255 km[2] (158 mi) | ||||||
South end | BC-NWT border | ||||||
North end | ![]() | ||||||
Location | |||||||
Country | Canada | ||||||
Highway system | |||||||
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TheLiard Highway (designatedHighway 77 inBritish Columbia andHighway 7 in theNorthwest Territories) is a 378 km two-lanehighway in Canada that is the only direct road link between British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Passing through sparsely-populated areas ofboreal forest, it serves as the sole land access route for the communities ofFort Liard andNahanni Butte.
The highway begins at a point on theAlaska Highway 28 km (17 mi) northwest ofFort Nelson and runs 138 km (86 mi) northeast through expanses of theCanadian Boreal Forest to the border of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Beyond the border, it continues for 254 km (158 mi) as a very rough packed dirt and gravel road designated as Highway 7. It terminates at a junction with TerritorialHighway 1 south ofFort Simpson.
The highway was built between 1975 and 1982 and was officially opened to traffic in June 1984.[3][4] The section in British Columbia was built under contracts with the Ministry of Transportation and Highways at a cost of $26 million (equivalent to $67.4 million in 2021). The section through theNorthwest Territories section was built by the federal government at a cost of $55 million (equivalent to $142.58 million in 2021). British Columbia assigned the number 77 to its portion of the route in 1984.[5]
In 2012, Peter's Bros. Construction Ltd. was awarded a contract valued at $8,911,212.00 to pave (level course and overlay) over the existing sealcoat from the end of the existing pavement at 83 km (52 mi) in British Columbia to the border with the Northwest Territories, at 137 km (85 mi).[6] The project was completed in August 2012.[citation needed]
As of 2018, Highway 77 has been fully paved up to the border with the Northwest Territories.[citation needed]
From south to north:
Province / Territory | Regional district / Region | Location | km[1][2] | mi | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Columbia | Northern Rockies | | 0 | 0.0 | ![]() | Hwy 77 southern terminus |
42 | 26 | Crosses theFort Nelson River | ||||
British Columbia –Northwest Territories border | 138 0 | 86 0.0 | ![]() ![]() | |||
Northwest Territories | Dehcho | Fort Liard | 38 | 24 | Access road | |
| 131 | 81 | Nahanni Butte access road | |||
Checkpoint | 255 | 158 | ![]() | Highway 7 northern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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