'It's bizarre': Dawson City ice bridge stalled by open water in Yukon River

Here's something new open waterat Dawson City, Yukon, isstymieinggovernment efforts to build an ice bridge across the Yukon River to WestDawson this year.

"It's bizarre,"said Yukon Highways Director Clint Ireland. "I've just been talking to staff who've been out there over 30 years, and they've never seen it like this."

• Unusual weather keeps Dawson City waiting for river to freeze

In a typical year, the government constructs and maintains a crossing through most of the winter. Last year, itwas officially opened in early January.

Dawson residents report the open water stretches sixkilometres downriver from the town.

While West Dawson residents have been crossing viaan alternate route upstream from town, Ireland says it's not viable for his crews because they would have to cross private property.

He says the ferry landing across from town the usual route is the only option for an official, maintained crossing.

"We've had to build them at angles, we've had to build them around open water, we've had to do a bunch of things but there's really only one viable access and that's at the ferry landing on the West Dawson side," Ireland said.

Ice dam is the problem, says hydrologist

Environment Yukon hydrologist Rick Janowiczsuspects an ice dam upriver from Dawson is responsible for the unusual open water.

"Just an ice cover upstream that's not allowing the ice pans to develop and fill in the ice downstream," he says.

Highways officials say they too are anxious to get across so they can open the road in time for the spring gold show as they've never gone a whole winter without an ice road.

"Not in any of our records, I was trying to go back...I haven't found one time we have not been able to build an ice bridge," said Ireland.

Yukon Quest officials have already planned for an alternate crossing upstream for next month's international sled dog race.

"Right now we are cautiously optimistic for some freeze-up," said Ireland. "But for now it's just wait and see."