Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy recently visited Yukon for the first time. He met with Yukon Government leaders, including Premier Ranj Pillai. Several commissioners from Alaska’s departments also attended the meeting. They discussed shared issues and opportunities.
The main topics were transportation, food security, wildlife management, and economic growth. A key result of the meeting was a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU is about improving the Alaska Highway in Yukon.
Governor Dunleavy highlighted the Alaska Highway’s importance. It’s the only road connecting Alaska and the Lower 48 states. Most traffic on the Canadian part of the road is American. He hopes that working with the Yukon Government will make the road safer.
The MOU is an agreement between Alaska’s and Yukon’s transportation departments. They plan to repair and improve a part of the Alaska Highway damaged by melting permafrost. This project will be part of Alaska’s 2024-2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.