Farmers and other travellers who need to cross the South Saskatchewan River could face longer transit times to the nearest bridge, with most ferries not in operation.
Saskatchewan’s highways department announced earlier this week that eight ferries on the river have been closed due to strong currents and unusually high water levels.
Farmers, motorists and rural residents who normally cross at the Lancer, Lemsford, Estuary, Clarkboro, St. Laurent, Hague, Weldon and Fenton ferries must now travel to the nearest bridge crossing, a detour that could easily turn a 10-minute trip into a journey of 50 or even 100 kilometres.
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With the exception of the Riverhurst Ferry, which crosses at Lake Diefenbaker near Riverhurst, Sask., all ferries on the South Saskatchewan river system were closed May 30 and were expected to remain that way until at least mid-June.
Peter Heal, manager of airport and marine operations for the highways department, said inflows into Lake Diefenbaker and outflows from the Gardiner Dam spillway are expected to remain high for the next few weeks keeping eight ferries that traverse the river closed.
All ferries crossing the North Saskatchewan River were operating normally as of May 30.
Heal said the highways department makes ferry closure decisions based on outflow forecasts and advisory bulletins issued by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.
It also consults with ferry operators who monitor local conditions.
“Looking at the 10-day forecast right now, there’s not a lot of change in sight,” Heal said.
SWA will be monitoring river conditions closely over the next few weeks and will be issuing advisories on its website at www.swa.ca.
Information on provincial ferries can be viewed online at www.highways. gov.sk.ca/ferry/and at www.highways.gov.sk.ca/ferry-schedule.
