Dawson City's annual ice bridge on the Yukon River was closed early due to warm temperatures and rain creating unsafe conditions for travelers.

People living in West Dawson are urging the Yukon government to do more to support them while they wait for the Yukon River to freeze over, and provide them with reliable access to emergency services.

An official says time and money was running out. No decisions have been made yet on what to do next winter.

Now three years in a row the river is jammed, upriver from Dawson, and that leaves a big open lead of water right in front of town.

Researchers from the National Research Council Canada investigated why the Yukon River didnt freeze at the George Black ferry crossing, where the ice bridge is usually built, for the last two winters.