The Keeyask Generating Station’s north and south access roads have been transferred from Manitoba Hydro to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure.

These roads now become part of Provincial Road 280, which Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor says is a major link for many northern communities.

She said the province will work with Manitoba Hydro to rehabilitate the road system and decrease travel distance by about 30 minutes between Gillam and Thompson.

PR 280 was first constructed as a permanent gravel highway in 1987, existing as the only road access from Thompson to Gillam.

The Keeyask access road was built for the construction of the Keeyask project and connects PR 280 and Gillam via the Keeyask site.