Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The ferry at Fort Providence could be in operation sooner rather than later.

Early Wednesday afternoon, authorities from the Department of Transportation were predicting the Merv Hardie Ferry wouldn't be taking passengers until late next week.

The DOT's assistant director of marine services, Tom Maher, explained that the plan was to to push the Merv Hardie into the water at the beginning of next week and then wait until the ice goes out of Beaver Lake to start service.

"The ice out of Beaver Lake is just above the path of the ferry, and if that ice comes through while the the ferry's in operation it will push the ferry in through the rapids and cause us a lot of damage. So we wait until that lake breaks free so that we don't put anybody at risk."

However, Mother Nature apparently had its own plans because at around 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Maher said the situation had changed.

"The ice in Beaver Lake is going out as we speak."

Maher said the ferry is ready to go into the water as soon as the ice clears and that there would be an update on the status of the ferry Thursday morning.

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