Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 21/00) - After playing the on-again off-again game, the area's ice roads have finally closed for good.

The Mackenzie River ice crossing at Fort Providence closed Wednesday afternoon to light traffic and completely shut down to all vehicles Thursday. The Dettah road also closed yesterday.

"There's less hope of things changing or extending now," said Art Barnes, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation. Unless a cold snap whips through the North Slave region in the next day or two the roads will not reopen like they did two weeks ago when a mass of Arctic air settled in.

With motor vehicle access now cut off, travellers must wait for the resumption of ferry service across the Mackenzie.

The Merv Hardie ferry, which will carry traffic across the river when the ice goes out, is currently undergoing standard maintenance and generator repairs.

"They are ongoing right now and they will complete all repairs by the end of the month," said acting director of marine services for the Department of Transportation, Rod Gunderson. "All crews are out there right now."

Gunderson added that based on historical data the ferry will be operating "probably late in the first week or the second week of May."

The next obstacle in the plight of crossing of the Mackenzie River is intermittent ice flow from Great Slave Lake, which halts ferry operation each year for a matter of days depending on winds and weather conditions.