Yellowknife (July 30/03) - Boat owners wanting to cool down on Great Slave Lake may be left cooling their heels during the next two weeks.

Road construction and repaving near the boat launch on Franklin Avenue will see intermittent closure of one or both launch lanes during weekdays, according to city officials.

"We'll try and limit it as much as we can...we want to make sure there's access for the weekend when there's really heavy boating traffic," Dennis Kefalas, manager of public works and engineering says.

This leaves at least one boat owner in the city frustrated.

"The big thing is, it's the only one in town and it has to be available," Doug Witty says of the launch.

Many boat owners may be left not only unable launch their boats, but also not able to bring them up from the water should they require maintenance work, he adds.

"But I do applaud the city to have it open on the weekend."

Kefalas says the public works crew will eventually reconstruct Franklin Avenue to MacDonald Drive, with the first phase this year being from School Draw Avenue to MacDonald Drive.

They will rebuild the road base, tear up the asphalt, build sidewalks and repave at a cost of $500,000.

He says crews will work on one side at a time, with flag staff present.

"We'll try to ensure that businesses along here and clients have access to the properties."

At the boat launch, storm sewers are being installed, then pavement will be torn up and new concrete and asphalt will be put in place.

While Witty questions the timing of the extensive work and the lack of public notice during busy mid-summer, Greg Kehoe, director of public works and engineering says the public should have been aware of the construction work and therefore should expect delays.

The larger issue Witty says, is the fact there is only one boat launch in the vicinity.

"There are enough boats in town that even closed for one day, it's going to cause stress for someone."

Mayor Gordon Van Tighem says there should be signage in the area indicating there is a government dock nearby at which boats can be launched.

Kehoe says the dock is about one-half block toward Latham Island just before the city bus stop.

"Historically, it has been used by the public."