Construction Status

On September 23, 2005 construction on the Red River Floodway Expansion Project was officially kicked off by Premier Gary Doer and former Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin. As a critical flood protection project and one of the largest public infrastructure projects in Manitoba’s history, the project will create over 1000 jobs over the next five years. At the same time, the project will provide important economic opportunities, as well as spin-off opportunities for Manitoba workers, contractors and the construction industry.

With construction underway, the following components of the floodway expansion project have already begun:

• Excavation of the Floodway Embankment East of Grande Pointe – COMPLETED - The first work undertaken as part of the floodway project was the excavation of an opening in the floodway embankment which will improve flood protection in the surrounding area. A joint venture between Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd from Dauphin, Manitoba, and Nelson House Forest Industries, a firm owned by Nisichawaysasihk Cree Nation, worked on the project.
  
  
  
  
• Excavation of Floodway Channel – ONGOING - To date, approximately 31 kms (19 miles), or 64% of the floodway channel, between the Inlet Control Structure and just south of the PTH 59 North Bridge, is either under construction or has already been widened.
  
  In June, 2007, work began on the remainder of the floodway channel (approximately 17 km) from the PTH 59 North Bridge to the Outlet Control Stucture in Lockport.
  
  Over the course of the project approximately 21 million cubic metres of earth will be excavated from the floodway channel.
  
  
  
  

• Replacement and Upgrade of the PTH 59 South Bridge – COMPLETED-  As the first highway bridge construction project on the floodway expansion project, PCL Construction Canada Ltd is replacing the two existing bridges on the northbound and southbound lanes of bridge. This will include raising and lengthening the bridges to ensure that they are above the 1-in-700 year flood level. In addition, Prairie Grove Road will be relocated higher along the bank, ensuring that the road remains above the flood water level for longer periods during flooding periods. Work on the southbound structure of PTH 59 South Bridge was completed and re-opened in the fall of 2006. Work on the northbound structure has begun and should be completed in the fall of 2007.
  
  
  PTH 59 South Bridge Construction Overview (4.8MB)
  



• Replacement and Upgrade of the Trans-Canada Highway East Bridge – COMPLETED - As part of this project, MD Steele Construction was responsible for replacing the existing bridge structure that crosses the floodway with two new bridge structures. The work included major safety improvements including the addition of an acceleration (eastbound) and deceleration (westbound) lane, which are designed to facilitate the safer movement of traffic onto and off the bridge as well a changes to the on and off ramps that will provide greater safety. The bridge was opened to traffic in November, 2006.
  
  
  
• Construction of the Sprague Railway Bridge – COMPLETED - This work involves making adjustments to the Canadian National Railway (CNR) Sprague Railway Bridge over the Red River Floodway. Train traffic was diverted to a detour structure this summer. This project was completed in June, 2007.
  
  
  
• Relocation of the City of Winnipeg Aqueduct – COMPLETED – In the summer of 2006, work began on the relocation of the City of Winnipeg Branch I and II Aqueducts. MFA is coordinating the relocation work with the City of Winnipeg, whose workers are making improvements to the City’s water treatment plan next to the Aqueduct. The project was completed in the spring of 2007.
  
  
  
• Extension of the West Dike – Ongoing - This work will improve safety and provide protection against wind and wave action during major flood events. The West Dike, which is approximately 45 kms (28 miles) in length and located southwest of Winnipeg, will be extended between 10 kms (6 miles) and 15 kms (9 miles) and raised in height in varying amounts to 1.5 metres (6 feet). Work on the West Dike is scheduled over the next four years. To date, work on the first 10 kilometres (6 miles) of a section of the West Dike has been completed and work has recently commenced on the remainder of the section from the Inlet to PR 330.
  
  Work on the West Dike is being undertaken as part of an Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative designed to help meet future labour needs while generating economic opportunities for the Aboriginal community.
  
  
  
• Replacement of the CN Redditt Railway Bridge – Ongoing – Work on the replacement of the CN Redditt Railway Bridge has begun and is being undertaken by PCL Construction Canada Ltd.
  
  
  
  
• Outlet Control structure to Undergo Major Expansion – PCL Constructors Canada will be widening the existing outlet structure to approximately twice its existing size to accommodate the increased flow. Side walls will also be constructed in the channel to prevent erosion and chute and baffle blocks will be constructed on the downstream end of the outlet to further reduce the speed of water re-entering the Red River. These improvements will help to ensure that the speed of water passing through the outlet remains largely unchanged from the pre-expansion condition. Work on the Outlet will begin in the summer and is scheduled to occur over two years.
  
  

Tender Results