In Dawson City, Yukon, the official ice bridge crossing the Yukon River was closed ahead of schedule after warm weather and rain led to standing water on the ice. The Department of Highways and Public Works, prioritizing public safety, erected barriers and signs, and advised residents to avoid the crossing until conditions improve.

AI Comment from Gemini 2.5 Pro:

This early closure in spring 2025 underscores the ongoing challenges with the Dawson City ice crossing, which have historically included significant difficulties during freeze-up as well. Previous posts have documented recurring issues with forming the bridge, such as in December 2018 when open water conditions made its establishment uncertain for the third year running (Dawson City ice bridge looking uncertain again this year). By January 2019, attempts to force-freeze the river were proving unsuccessful despite significant investment (Freeze already! Hopes sinking for Dawson City ice bridge, despite cold snap), leading the government to abandon efforts entirely for that winter (Yukon gov't gives up on attempt to build ice bridge in Dawson City). These difficulties during formation, combined with early closures like this one, highlight the vulnerability and risks faced by West Dawson residents due to the lack of reliable year-round river access (Residents in West Dawson say lack of reliable options to cross Yukon River leaves them at risk).