The Department of Transportation prepares to work on the road to Dettah on Saturday. Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the department, said he expects the road to open before Christmas. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo |
Dettah ice road set to open
RCMP warns motorists to avoid crossing the lake until seasonal passage officially ready
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 17, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
People who commute between Dettah and Yellowknife on a daily basis will likely be glad to hear the ice road between the two communities could be open before the end of the weekend.
Historical Dettah Ice Road opening dates
- 2006/07 Jan. 4 - 96 days open
- 2007/08 Dec. 21 - 112 days open
- 2008/09 Dec. 23 - 133 days open
- 2009/10 Dec. 24 - 106 days open
- 2010/11 Dec. 16 - 112 days open
- 2011/12 Dec. 31 - 113 days open
- 2012/13 Dec. 20 - 115 days open
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"It could be in as early as Saturday," said Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation.
Department crews were out measuring the thickness of the ice over the weekend with the help of radar, in order to confirm it was at least 30 cm thick. As of Monday, the department was starting to send out plows to clear off the snow.
Due to the existence of rough "waves" which formed as a result of high winds during freeze-up, Conway said crews are having to go to extra lengths to smooth out the ice road's surface by flooding it with water.
"There's a long process involved ... for opening the winter road," he said. "Safety is always our number one priority."
On average, the ice road has opened on Dec. 20 and remained open for a total of 119 days over the past 20 years. In the winter of 2006/07 warm temperatures delayed the opening until Jan. 4.
Despite the recent warm spell, Conway said the cooler temperatures earlier in the year and the lack of significant snowfall are promising for the road's construction.
"We haven't had very much snow this year ... and we had some cold weather earlier in the year so our expectation is it's going to be an average year for ice growth on the Dettah Ice Road," he said.
Over the last few weeks Yellowknifer has spotted several trucks driving along the shoreline between Dettah and Jolliffe Island, despite warnings from the RCMP that pressure cracks and open water had been spotted outside of Dettah halfway, toward Wool Bay. Conway added that since crews have begun working on the road, motorists driving along its planned route have slowed workers down.
It is perhaps understandable why a handful of eager motorists are keen to jump the gun. A study conducted by the GNWT several years ago calculated that vehicles using the ice road as opposed to the highway to commute between Dettah and Yellowknife saved a combined average of $150,000 on gas every year.
Despite the potential for savings, motorists should be aware that they are liable for a $863 fine if caught driving on a closed seasonal road.
Const. Elenore Sturko, RCMP spokesperson, said police will be monitoring the road as construction gets underway and discourages people from putting themselves at risk by driving on unmarked areas on the lake.
"We are patrolling and we will be issuing fines for anyone driving on the road before it is ready," she said.
