Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Jan 11/02) - Local governments in Fort Providence are proceeding with a formal proposal to design, finance, build and operate a bridge across the Mackenzie River.

Bridging the Mackenzie would eliminate the need for a seasonal ferry service on the river near Fort Providence.

The Combined Council Alliance, comprising the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, Metis Local and the hamlet is proposing to have a two-lane, one-kilometre span completed by early 2005, if not a year sooner.

"We are not ready to release all the details," stated bridge committee member Albert J. Lafferty, "but we can say that our cost estimate is well below the current government figure of $60 million. The lower cost, along with increasing traffic and very attractive borrowing rates make this project quite attractive."

Deh Gah Got'ie Chief Sam Gargan said the community will be seeking support from the territorial government and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), which combined to fund the feasibility study.

The community would raise money for construction through a combination of equity and debt, according to a press release. There would also be "modest" user fees.

The bridge is to be located at the current ferry crossing.

It would be constructed to bear the largest and heaviest loads legally permitted and would not interfere with river traffic.

"Our analysis shows that this project is technically sound, environmentally responsible and financially viable," Gargan stated.

He added that the current ferry and ice bridge system prevent passage for one to three weeks during freeze-up and as long as four weeks every spring. Ice bridge construction is behind schedule this year, not likely to open to traffic for another week or two.

"Construction of a bridge will eliminate these disruptions, reduce trip times, reduce costs for business and consumers and save the government the ongoing costs of operating the ferry and ice bridge," Gargan stated.