SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Warmer temperatures have forced crews maintaining the Tibbitt to Contwoyto ice road to spread out trucks heading up the road to the mines.

Dave Madder, a spokesperson for Nuna Logistics, said instead of four trucks heading up the road every 20 minutes, they are sending four every 40 minutes. He said this allows enough time between trucks to let the ice recuperate.

"We've got one lake that's always an issue lake and it's created an issue because of the warm weather," he said of Waite Lake.

The lake has been an issue for years when warm weather has struck. The ice road was forced to close after only 42 days of operation in 2006 because of warm weather causing problems at the Waite Lake section of the road.

The mines were forced to fly in supplies that year at a cost of four to eight times more per pound than what it would cost to transport by road.

Madder said if the weather warms again his company will consider shutting down the road for a few days.

Environment Canada is forecasting starting a high of -6 C tomorrow which is predicted to last well into next week

"We're hoping we don't have to, but if the safety isn't there, then we have to take steps," Madder said.

Compared to past years on the ice road, the total number of loads is much lower than previous years. He said the company is only expecting approximately 3,500 loads this year, compared to 5,377 last year.

"Because of the light season we ... expect to run 100 to 120 loads a day so it's not a major issue, it's just a matter of spreading them out so it doesn't create that washing affect at the lake," Madder said. "

We're not behind in loads at all. Every time there is warm weather there is a concern. Those kinds of things create issues where we have to look at it from an hour to hour basis."

Trucks are running at full weight capacity, except for the Super-B trucks, the largest fuel hauler on the road.

The Super B trucks are running at 90 per cent weight capacity, some 57,000 kg.

The road is 38 inches thick, allowing for everything but the Super B to run at a full haul, adding they've had no incidents on the ice road due to conditions.