PM may head to Mackenzie Delta next week

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning to travel to the Mackenzie Delta region of N.W.T. next week.

CBC News has learned Harper's visit is expected to mark the start of construction on the Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik highway.

It is expected there will be an official photo opportunity, likely on Wednesday.

So far, construction crews have been working on a 20 kilometreaccess road from Tuktoyaktuk to what will eventually be part of thehighway.

The federal government has committed $200 millionto the mega project.The 140-kilometre highway is expected to cost just under $300 million.

The territorial government will pick up the rest of the cost and any overruns.

A final decision about the prime minister's visit is expected early next week.