Officials are hoping that conditions hold to allow traffic to move through the Bay d’Espoir Highway today.

The Martin’s Lake fire essentially cut the Connaigre Peninsula off from the rest of the island after the highway was closed earlier this week.

The MHA for the Coast of Bays, Elvis Loveless, says escorted traffic will be allowed through the area, one lane at a time, starting this morning from now to 4:00 p.m.

He’s hopeful, if conditions improve, that they’ll be able to extend access.

Traffic will be flowing both ways, says Loveless, but one lane at a time for the time being.

Also, access in and out via the water has been expanded. The Marine Trader, which  has space for 40 passengers but no vehicles, will continue doing a return trip between Recontre East, Pool’s Cove and Bay L’Argent, and the Sound of Islay will begin a vehicle-passenger route today between Hermitage-Sandyville and Fortune on the Burin Peninsula.