It 'looks like a big lawn sprinkler': River spraying starts in Dawson City

The Yukon government is firing a water cannon across the Yukon River.

It's part of a plan to build what the territory's transportation ministerhas calledan "Ice Band-Aid."

Thetechnique has long beenused in the N.W.T.but it's new to the Yukon.

The government is trying to accelerate the freezingof a roughly 70-metre-wide span of the Yukon Riverin Dawson City, to connect people who live on both sides.

Clint Ireland, director of transportation maintenance with YukonHighways and Public Works says theyellow machine "looks like a biglawn sprinkler."

The device was trucked in via the Dempster Highway from Fort McPherson,N.W.T.

The pump shoots river water high into the air. Depending on temperature, tiny droplets might freeze before they hit the ground.Thegoal is to gradually close the gap between both sides of the river, then solidify the ice bridge.

Such a machine has been used in previous years to help create the ice crossing on the Mackenzie River near Tsiigehtchic.

West Dawson waits for ice bridge

Last year, the Yukon River at Dawson City frozeexceptionally late in the season. At one point, people werepaying helicopter companiesto carry groceries to West Dawson.

Residents of West Dawson opened an alternate route further upstream. The unofficial roadallows peopleto cross onsnowmobiles or walk. The winding path takes more than an hour on foot.

Some people have even driven across in cars and trucks in recent days, though they do so at their own risk.Emergency vehicles would not be allowed to use the alternate route.

Ireland says the first spraying began on Tuesday and the entire project could cost $100,000.

The project will require about six peoplewho will be working during daylight hours.

It's not clear how long they'll be spraying.

"It has been done before,but it's new to us," Ireland said. "We'll know better by the end of the week how things are progressing. I'm hoping that we'll be making good progress and we'll start to see the channel getting smaller at least within the week."