Yellowknife (May 10/06) - The Merv Hardie - Yellowknife's ferry lifeline to Highway No. 3 - was put in the water yesterday.

The route the ferry follows across the Mackenzie River is now clear, said Art Barnes, the South Slave superintendent for the Department of Transportation. "We expect service to begin Friday, if all goes well," he said.

Ferry crews will be testing the ferry's systems and getting the roads and landing areas in top shape for the upcoming ferry season, he said.

Barnes said the only concern they have is with delays that could arise when ice starts flowing out of Great Slave Lake later in the month. Ferry service could be stopped or run intermittently if a large amount of ice blocks the crossing.