NNSL (Mar 30/98) - Since 1980, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce has been saving for a bridge across the Mackenzie.

But even though it been close to two decades, only $1,800 has been raised for the project.

"The chamber has share certificates for the Mackenzie River bridge. We sell them sort of as souvenirs. Buy a share in the bridge, right," said chamber executive director Cheryl Best (left).

The shares sell for $5 a piece. The money from the shares have been going into the Mackenzie River Bridge Foundation.

The fund's policy calls for all monies raised to go towards assisting he development of the bridge.

However, very few efforts have been made over the years to rejuvenate and promote this fund and get more people buying shares to make the idea a reality.

And obviously with the project involving constructing a bridge for the approximate one-kilometre river crossing, it will take more than a few shares to pursue such an endeavor.

"It is a joke more than anything else," said Best trying to keep from laughing. "It's going to take mega bucks," she said, drawing a parallel to the Prince Edward Island bridge construction which cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $85 million.

In all seriousness, Best said it's not worth talking about the "pipe dream" until we have full support of both governments and contracts are struck with the trucking companies for use of the bridge.

When asked if anyone has requested to cash in their bridge shares, Best laughed, and said they're non-refundable.

"But I tell you what, for everybody that bought shares we'll send them an invitation to come to the grand opening of the bridge."