OKA, Que. — The province is spending about $750,000 on dredging work to be done this fall on the Ottawa River at the Oka-Hudson ferry crossing.

The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) says an impact study shows that dredging of the crossing will restore optimal ferry navigation and safety at the crossing, as well as help each of the Hudson and Oka communities reap some economic benefits.

The dredging is slated to be done over eight weeks in October and November. At a recent public information meeting about the planned dredging work, the BAPE said a barrier would be built around the drinking water entry at Oka, upstream from the crossing, to eliminate contamination from silt and other particles stirred up by the dredging work.

The BAPE says the dredging work could affect Oka ferry operations, but it plans to minimize any inconvenience on residents and ferry traffic by banning work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

More information about the dredging will be available at a public information being held on the south-shore side at the Hudson Community Centre on Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. In addition, the impact study is being made available at the Hudson Town Hall until Feb. 28.