Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (May 27/02) - As in years past, the Hay River Airport became a refuge for vehicles stranded by the annual spring disruption of the Mackenzie River crossing at Fort Providence.

"It happens on a regular basis this time of year," said Hay River Airport manager Karen King.

As of last week, when the ferry crossing at Fort Providence opened, there were 133 stranded cars and trucks parked at the airport.

The owners had left their vehicles at the airport and flown on to Yellowknife.

King said there were more vehicles than usual this spring because the ferry is usually operational by May 16 on average as the ice moves out.

"So you got that traffic coming up expecting to make that crossing based on history," she said.

King said normally each year they see between 70 and 80 vehicles left behind while owners fly across.

The ice road crossing of the Mackenzie River was closed April 23. The ferry started service across the Mackenzie River on Wednesday evening.

King said he expected 90 per cent of the vehicles to be gone by this past weekend.

She said the vehicles belonged to all kinds of travellers, ranging from tourists to mine workers. "Everyone. You name it."

She said the situation creates hardship for some people, especially those requiring their vehicles in Yellowknife.

The airport has a special overflow parking area just for the stranded vehicles. King said vehicles also tend to stock up during winter freeze-up.

Along with the airport, an undetermined number of motorists heading to Yellowknife parked their stranded vehicles at the homes of friends or relatives in Hay River.