Posted on July 17, 2024
The vicinity of the Liard River ferry will be dredged in August and September, the NWT government says, “to ensure a safe navigation path.”
Water levels at the crossing – and in many other parts of the territory’s south – have been critically low so far this year.
The crossing is operated by the MV Lafferty, which connects Fort Simpson and Wrigley to the rest of the NWT’s highway network and southern Canada. (Separately, the MV Lafferty is expected to spend most of this week out of action for repairs.)
“A long-reach excavator will remove approximately 8,000 cubic metres of material such as boulders, cobbles and other sediment from the ferry’s path,” the GNWT stated on Monday.
“Work should not delay or change the ferry operation schedule, but the public will be advised of any changes as needed.”
The main area of concern is the south bank, the GNWT said, where boulders and cobbles can damage the ferry’s hull when it docks.
Material removed will be stockpiled for future use or hauled to existing quarries, the territory added.
