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DEH CHO - Ice conditions delayed the openings of two ice crossings on the Mackenzie River in the Deh Cho this year.

Progress on the crossings at both Fort Providence and N'Dulee was slowed by open leads of water.

The crossing at Fort Providence opened to light traffic - no heavier than 4,500 kg per vehicle - on Jan. 5. The opening was almost three weeks behind the Dec. 17 average, said Art Barnes, regional superintendent of transportation for the South Slave region.

The delay was caused by the ice formation. The river at the point of the crossing is almost 3 km wide and five to six metres deep at the centre. The middle of the river was still flowing as Christmas approached and didn't finally ice over until Dec. 23 or 24, said Barnes.

It was the cold weather the area received around Christmas that closed the centre, he said.

Spray pumps are now being used on the crossing to increase it to its full weight capacity and width. The crossing will probably be at its final width of 30 to 50 metres in a few weeks, said Barnes.

"It's always weather-dependent and machinery-dependent," he said.

The Merv Hardie ferry is expected to continue running to transport heavy trucks until the weight limit on the crossing increases.

Residents of Wrigley haven't had the option of using a ferry. The community has been cut off from the rest of the transportation network since the Johnny Berens ferry stopped running on Oct. 31.

On Jan. 6 Rod Gunderson, district superintendent of highway operations in the Deh Cho, estimated the N'Dulee ice crossing would be open by Friday. If it meets that target the crossing will be just three days short of the latest opening, set on Jan. 12, 1998.

The crossing was delayed because the Mackenzie River was late freezing and even then a large lead remained open. The stretch of open water that was 300 metres wide and 1,000 metres long in early December lay right in the path of the crossing.

The department looked at the possibility of going around the open water but decided it wasn't a viable option, said Gunderson. The contractor had to wait until the lead closed naturally, which it did on Jan. 4, before starting to flood the weak spot, he said.

The situation was unusual.

"I've seen open spots on it before but never like that," said Gunderson.

Higher-than-normal water levels and warmer temperatures in the fall are two possible reasons for the slow ice formation, said Gunderson.

The Mackenzie is also always the last river to freeze in contrast with the Liard River which freezes earlier, he said.

This year the Liard River ice crossing opened to light traffic on Nov. 27, just two days short of the average opening date of Nov. 25 that's been set over the past five years.

The long wait for the ice crossing has been a challenge for the residents of Wrigley, said Paul Nadjiwan, senior administrative officer for the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation.

"Our store here is just about totally out," said Nadjiwan.

The shelves at the band's store were restocked with groceries flown in just before Christmas. The store remained open during the holidays and the shelves have gotten pretty bare, he said.

"Everyone's anxious to have an opportunity to get out."

Residents' shopping lists include household items as well as a broader selection of groceries, he said. Some community members haven't waited for the ice crossing to open so they can get to Fort Simpson and beyond.

Residents have been driving to the Mackenzie River and then walking or snowmobiling across, said Nadjiwan. Once on the other side they use a vehicle that's been left there or arrange for a ride. On the return trip people use sleds to move their purchased supplies over the ice.

Nadjiwan said it would be an economic advantage to residents if the Liard and N'Dulee crossings opened at approximately the same time.