Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 31/99) - Soon the Fort Providence ice crossing will close, cutting off our ground transport supply for about three weeks.

Businesses around the Yellowknife area are preparing for the closure, by doubling orders and planning ahead.

Burger fans need not worry, said Andre Corbeil, McDonald's Restaurant Manager. They have a system to ensure uninterrupted burgers and fries -- even if they have to fly the fries.

"We prepare for it and our customers aren't affected by it," Corbeil said. "We've been doing this now for seven years, so we really have developed a knack for it."

Timing is critical to avoid costly air freight, he said.

"We're talking to the people at Providence every day and it's really just a matter of timing," he said. "We make sure we get our delivery just before the bridge goes out."

If the supply runs short, Corbeil said they fly their groceries across the Providence crossing.

"We are the only McDonald's in Canada served by truck, plane and helicopter," Corbeil said.

"If we have to fly things across, our prices don't change, we just absorb the difference."

Ken Weaver, store manager at Weaver and Devore said the mercantile always makes sure to carry extra inventory.

"We carry extra canned good and staples that keep well," he said. "Fresh produce items or dairy and that sort of thing, you just have to fly it in."

While the interruption is sometimes inconvenient, Weaver said they can pretty much determine his customer's needs in advance.

"We carry a little extra inventory, but not a whole lot," Weaver said. "Like most businesses in town, we can pretty much gauge what we'll be needing."

"If the ferry was out for an extended period of time, you'd just start to see shortages around town," he said.

While the businesses brace for the closure, the Providence crossing is holding together, said Art Barnes, Regional Superintendent for the Department of Transportation.

"The ice crossing is doing quite well, because the temperatures have dropped," he said. "We are getting some good freezing at night and that's a big help to us right now."

Barnes said the early thaw will bring an early closure, but recent cold weather has stalled the break up.

"If we get seasonal conditions, we'll close on around the middle of the month," he said. "The tendency this winter has been milder, above average temperatures."

"So, we are going to close earlier this year, if those conditions persist," Barnes said, adding, "I can't say it's going to be the seventh or the 10th of April."

"It's totally contingent upon how much sunlight we get and how much heat is out there and how prolonged it is," he said.

The crossing usually is closed for three to four weeks during break up, Barnes said, but an early thaw does not necessarily mean early ferry operation.

"There doesn't seem to be any relationship to an early closing of the ice bridge and an earlier operating season for the ferry," Barnes said.

"It has everything to do with the style of break up we get, how fast the ice clears out and which direction the wind is blowing, there are lots of factors that come into play."