Low water levels and high winds to blame
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 06/00) - This week's shutdown of ferry service at Fort Providence is nothing unusual for marine officials.
"This is a normal occurrence that is usual as the river freezes-up and that's what it's doing right now," said Les Shaw, director of marine services for the NWT Department of Transportation.
Because of low water levels and high winds all ferry service was discontinued on Sunday at 8 a.m.
"The winds become a problem for us to stay in our channel. So, when we have really low water we have to be very careful of high winds."
As of Tuesday Shaw had no idea when or if the service would to resume.
Last year, low water levels in early Dec. caused the ferry to shut down for two-weeks.
A 14-kilometre ice jam also threatened the hamlet's water supply.
So far this month, however, truck drivers such as Jerry Guilbault in Yellowknife of Northwest Transport Ltd., it's almost business as usual.
Unable to cross the river, he said truckers are keeping busy by dropping their deliveries for storage in Fort Providence.
"When trucks come in from down south, they just drop their trailer. They've got another one (trailer) and go right back (South) again," said Guilbault.
Shaw expects maintenance crews to begin preparing the ice crossing as soon as the ice settles in the channel.
