Fort Providence initiates study
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Fort Providence (Dec 18/00) - As Christmas shopping heats up in the NWT capital each year, the flow of merchandise from the south comes to a screeching halt.
The stall of truck and vehicle traffic at the Fort Providence Mackenzie River crossing during freeze-up and break-up each year is again prompting discussion of building a permanent bridge.
Early in the new year, the community of Fort Providence will begin a $100,000 study of the feasibility of spanning the one kilometre gap.
As of last week, though, retailers in Yellowknife were left to either watch their shelves stand empty or fly in merchandise.
"I haven't received freight for two weeks," said Radio Shack manager Marc Leclerc last Wednesday. A truck full of merchandise for his store was sitting on the other side of the Mackenzie.
"It's a waiting game and its bad because it's Christmas," Leclerc said.
Steve Leonhardt, manager of the downtown Extra Foods grocery store, said for the first time ever the store is flying in grocery shipments from Hay River aboard First Air's Hercules.
Leonhardt said grocery prices are not increased as a result of disruptions at the Mackenzie.
The study Fort Providence is undertaking is aimed at determining if a bridge is environmentally and financially feasible, said Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod, spokesperson for the partners in the study, the community hamelet, dene and metis councils.
McLeod said the report that will come out of the study will be something like a business plan.
"We're hoping to come up with a document we can take to the next phase, something we can show prospective partners and government," said McLeod.
The community wants to have part ownership of the bridge, if it is built.
A bridge would have some impact on the isolated post allowance federal government workers in Yellowknife collect.
Married employees now get $10,700 (before taxes). All-weather road access is one of many factors in the complicated formula used to calculate isolated post allowances for each area.
Two years ago, federal workers held demonstrations and conducted a letter-writing campaign when the Treasury Board cut back the allowance.
The cutback, later reversed, was made on the basis that there was less than the minimum of six weeks where the road service was suspended at Fort Providence.
McLeod said a consultant retained by the tri-council has made a preliminary estimate of $60 million for construction of the bridge.
Though it contributed $30,000 toward the cost of the study (the rest came from the federal government), that's as far as the territorial government's commitment to the bridge goes for the time being.
"We made it very clear it was one-time funding to look at the benefits of it and doesn't include any commitment beyond this study," said Bob McLeod, deputy minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.
The government is also sceptical about the financial feasibility of the bridge.
"Commenting (on feasbility) would be up to the Fort Providence groups," said Masood Hassan, territorial director of transportation planning.
"What I can confirm is that the traffic numbers are very low."
A rough calculation done last week by Northern News Services estimated that at tolls comparable to those charged in other parts of the country, current traffic would generate $500,000 to $2 million per year.
McLeod said getting communities like Wekeweti and Gameti on the winter road system is a higher priority for the government.
