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NWT - To attempt to reduce the cost of living in the Beaufort Delta region, the territorial government used a different method to try to open the region's ice crossings to commercial traffic earlier.

Water is sprayed on the Arctic Red River crossing as part of the GNWT's efforts to open the region's ice crossings to commercial traffic earlier. The hope is an eralier trucking season will reduce the cost of living in the high North. Both the Arctic Red River and Peel River crossings opened on Dec. 18, weeks earlier than normal. - photo courtesy of Gurdev Jagpal

"We experimented a couple of times before and we did a cost-benefit analysis that favoured applying the ice spraying technologies," said Gurdev Jagpal, the transportation department's superintendent of the Inuvik region.

The department used the method on the Dempster highway crossings – the Peel River crossing near Fort McPherson and the Arctic Red River crossing near Tsiigehtchic.

Jagpal said the spraying makes ice thicken faster and said it would open the crossings up to commercial traffic three weeks to a month earlier than normal.

Spraying will cost the government about $200,000 in additional funds this year.

The spraying method covers the road with six to eight inch layers of water, which freezes, allowing workers to then apply another layer, until the ice gets to 127-centimetres thick.

On Thursday, both crossings were opened up to full capacity and able to support vehicles up to 64,500 kg.

Typically, the Peel River crossing opens to commercial traffic in late-December or early-January. Last year, it opened on Jan. 8. The Arctic Red River crossing opened to heavy traffic on Jan. 22 last year and usually opens the first week of January.

The traditional method, where holes are drilled into the ice and water is pumped up through them to freeze is slower, said Jagpal.

Residents of Aklavik, Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic and Tuktoyaktuk are all dependant upon the opening of the ice crossings each winter.

Cliff Stringer, manager of Inuvik's Northmart, said this year partial-load trucks have actually been getting into the town a little later than last.

"It's about a week later this year, compared to last year," said Stringer, adding the road has been closed to traffic a few times due to weather.

"The trailers are coming in but they're not full capacity loads," he said.

Residents in Tsiigehtchic said they have seen the efforts of crews spraying to build the ice bridges, but added supply trucks have been about a week late arriving in the community.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said the only difference he saw was the crossing opened earlier for light traffic, allowing residents to travel to Inuvik to buy goods for cheaper. Jagpal said the Peel River crossing opened to vehicles more than 30,000 kg on Nov. 25.

"I think it's early," he said.

To respond to the partial load trucks getting in a week late, Jagpal said the ice spraying would help with full load trucks.

"The main thing to compare is over-60,000 kg – the full opening," said Jagpal.

Jagpal said the department has been using the ice spraying method at the Mackenzie River crossing near Fort Providence for years.

The ice spraying does not affect how long the crossing stays in over spring break-up.