Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 24/02) - If you haven't done so already, it's time to stock up those shelves. For the next few weeks, Yellowknife is once again a fly-in community.

As of Tuesday, the Mackenzie River ice crossing at Fort Providence was closed to traffic.

The crossing went on a 48-hour closure notice Friday. The 24-hour death watch began Monday, according to Department of Transportation spokesperson Karen King.

"There's no question about it. It will be closing Tuesday at noon," said King.

"We had plus 16 temperatures yesterday, and plus 12 the day before," making the crossing's condition deteriorate very rapidly, she added.

A small vehicle that became trapped in a pothole over the weekend didn't herald the crossing's impending closure. However, "(Sunday) night, a larger vehicle hit a pothole and lost a brake line," said King.

With mishaps starting to afflict vehicles with higher clearances, and discoloration appearing on the crossing's ramps, the bridge's fate was sealed. Transportation officials immediately sent bulletins to major trucking companies and the police.

While temperatures dropped well below freezing Sunday night, "all we got was about a half-inch of ice during the night," said King.

Trucks crossing the bridge "were just breaking through it," she added.

This year's ice crossing lasted eight days longer than last year's, and a full four days longer than the 35-year average closure date of April 19.

Les Shaw, Transportation's director of Marine Services, said the MV Merv Hardie is, "looking good" and should be ready to hit the water as soon as the ice clears at the crossing.

"The ice is actually looking pretty stable at Providence, but it usually takes three or four days of pretty hot weather to really do it in," said Shaw.

The ferry is expected to make this year's maiden voyage the second week of May. Last year's first trip was May 9.