The ten biggest public works projects in Canadian history

Cantechletter.com
April 26, 2023

Canada’s infrastructure has been built over several eras, with significant construction taking place during different periods of the country’s history. Some notable eras include:

Early infrastructure development (pre-1867): Prior to Confederation in 1867, infrastructure development in Canada was largely focused on transportation and communication links, including canals, roads, and early telegraph lines.

Railway construction (1867-1930s): After Confederation, the federal government encouraged the construction of a transcontinental railway to link the new country together. The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885, followed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and Canadian Northern Railway.

Post-war expansion (1945-1970s): Following World War II, Canada experienced a significant period of growth and expansion. This era saw the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Trans-Canada Highway, and numerous public works projects aimed at modernizing the country’s infrastructure.

Recent infrastructure investments (1980s-present): In recent decades, Canada has continued to invest in infrastructure, with a focus on modernizing existing infrastructure and building new projects to support economic growth and development. Examples include the expansion of public transit systems, investments in renewable energy infrastructure, and the construction of new bridges and highways.

Overall, Canada’s infrastructure has been built over many eras, with each period of construction reflecting the economic, political, and social priorities of its time.

Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) is a system of highways that crosses Canada from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast, covering a distance of about 7,821 kilometers (4,860 miles). It is one of the longest national highways in the world and was built between 1950 and 1971.

The TCH was proposed in 1949 as a means of connecting the country from coast to coast and to enhance economic growth and development by providing easy transportation of goods and people. The project was a massive undertaking, involving the construction of new highways, the upgrading of existing roads, the construction of bridges, and the blasting of tunnels through mountains.

The construction of the TCH was carried out in sections over a period of several decades, with each section completed as funding became available. It was officially opened on September 3, 1962, by then-Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in Rogers Pass, British Columbia. However, it was not until 1971 that the highway was completed and officially opened from coast to coast.

Today, the TCH is an important transportation route for both commercial and personal travel. It connects major cities and small communities across the country and is an important part of Canada’s national infrastructure.

 

St. Lawrence Seaway
The St. Lawrence Seaway is a deep draft waterway that allows ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, via the St. Lawrence River. It is a joint project between Canada and the United States, with the Canadian portion being managed by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

The Seaway opened in 1959 after decades of planning and construction. It consists of a system of locks, canals, and channels that allow ships to bypass the rapids of the St. Lawrence River and travel upstream into the Great Lakes. The system stretches from Montreal to Lake Erie, a distance of approximately 3,700 kilometers.

The construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway had a significant impact on trade between Canada and the United States. It allowed larger ships to access the Great Lakes region, which in turn facilitated the transportation of goods between the two countries. It also spurred economic development in many communities along the Seaway, particularly in the areas of shipping, manufacturing, and tourism.

However, the construction of the Seaway also had environmental and social impacts. The creation of the Seaway flooded many areas along the St. Lawrence River, displacing thousands of people and disrupting ecosystems. Additionally, the Seaway has been implicated in the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes region.

Despite these challenges, the St. Lawrence Seaway remains an important transportation route for goods and a key part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure.

Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) is a transcontinental railway system that was completed in 1885, connecting the eastern and western coasts of Canada. It was built by the Canadian government as a condition for British Columbia joining Confederation in 1871. The CPR spans over 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) and was the first railway in Canada to be built from coast to coast. The railway played a significant role in the development of Canada’s economy and the settlement of the West.

The construction of the CPR was a massive undertaking that took six years to complete and required the labor of thousands of workers, including many immigrants from China. The railway was built using a combination of hand labor and machinery, and the construction involved the blasting of mountains, the bridging of rivers, and the laying of tracks through harsh and often dangerous terrain.

After its completion, the CPR became a key transportation link for moving goods and people across Canada, as well as a major player in international trade. In addition to transporting freight, the CPR also became known for its luxurious passenger service, with its famous “Canadian” train offering a luxurious journey from coast to coast.

Today, the Canadian Pacific Railway is still in operation and is one of the largest railway companies in Canada, transporting goods such as grain, coal, and oil across the country. The company also operates in the United States and has expanded into other areas such as shipping and logistics.

Confederation Bridge
The Confederation Bridge is a bridge that spans the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, connecting the province of Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick in Canada. The bridge is 12.9 kilometers (8 miles) long and is the longest bridge over ice-covered waters in the world.

The bridge was completed in 1997 after nearly 10 years of planning and construction, and it replaced the previous ferry service that connected Prince Edward Island to the mainland. The bridge was designed to withstand the harsh maritime weather conditions and is made up of 65 curved concrete box girders, each weighing around 50,000 tons. The bridge is also notable for its low profile and gentle curve, which is designed to blend in with the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

The Confederation Bridge has become an iconic symbol of Prince Edward Island and a significant landmark in Atlantic Canada. It has also greatly improved transportation and commerce between Prince Edward Island and the mainland, as it allows for faster and more efficient travel.

Vancouver SkyTrain
The Vancouver SkyTrain is a fully automated rapid transit system that serves the metropolitan area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was the first such system in Canada, and began operation in 1985.

The SkyTrain has three lines: the Expo Line, the Millennium Line, and the Canada Line. The Expo Line, which opened in 1985, runs from downtown Vancouver to Surrey, a distance of 28.5 km (17.7 mi). The Millennium Line, which opened in 2002, runs from the Expo Line’s eastern terminus in Burnaby to Vancouver’s waterfront. The Canada Line, which opened in 2009, runs from Vancouver to the airport in Richmond and to the city of Vancouver in the north.

The SkyTrain system is fully automated, meaning that there is no driver on board the trains. Instead, the trains are controlled by an advanced computer system. The trains run on elevated tracks for much of their length, giving passengers a great view of the city.

The SkyTrain has become an important part of the public transportation system in Vancouver, carrying over 495,000 passengers on an average weekday. It has won many awards for its design and innovation, and is often cited as a model for other rapid transit systems around the world.

Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Project
The Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Project is a large-scale hydroelectric power development located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is situated on the Churchill River, which is a major river system in the area.

The project was first proposed in the 1960s by the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited, a joint venture between Hydro-Québec and the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation. The project involved the construction of a large dam and power station on the Churchill River, which would harness the river’s enormous hydroelectric potential to generate electricity for export to markets in the United States.

Construction on the project began in the early 1970s and was completed in 1974. The power station has a total capacity of 5,428 megawatts, making it one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in North America. The electricity generated by the project is transported over a transmission line to a substation in Churchill Falls, where it is then transmitted to markets in the northeastern United States.

The Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Project has been the subject of controversy over the years, particularly in relation to the long-term power purchase agreement between Hydro-Québec and the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Hydro-Québec is entitled to purchase electricity generated by the project at a fixed price until 2041, which has been criticized as being unfavorable to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is a historic waterway located in eastern Ontario, Canada. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously operating canal systems in North America. The canal stretches for 202 km (126 miles) between Kingston and Ottawa, and includes 47 locks, several lakes, and numerous historic sites and attractions.

The Rideau Canal was originally built between 1826 and 1832 as a military supply route to connect Lake Ontario to the Ottawa River during the War of 1812. Today, it is used primarily for recreational boating and tourism, and is a popular destination for boaters, anglers, hikers, and history enthusiasts.

The canal was designed by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, a British military engineer, and was constructed using a combination of manual labor and innovative engineering techniques, including the use of steam-powered dredges and canal boats. The canal was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1925, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.

The Rideau Canal is renowned for its scenic beauty and historic significance, and is an important symbol of Canadian engineering and ingenuity. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, who come to explore its many locks, historic sites, and natural attractions.

Hibernia Oil Platform
The Hibernia Oil Platform is a large offshore oil platform located off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It is situated in the Hibernia oil field, which is one of the largest oil fields in the North Atlantic.

The platform was constructed between 1986 and 1997, and began producing oil in 1997. It is operated by Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC), a partnership between ExxonMobil Canada (33.125%), Chevron Canada Resources (26.875%), Suncor Energy (20%), Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation (8.5%), Murphy Oil (6.5%), and Statoil Canada (5%).

The Hibernia platform is a gravity-based structure, which means it rests on the ocean floor rather than being anchored to it. It stands 224 meters tall, and has a total weight of over 1.2 million tonnes. The platform is capable of producing up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, and has a storage capacity of 1.3 million barrels.

The Hibernia platform has played an important role in the development of Canada’s offshore oil industry, and has contributed significantly to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline was a proposed natural gas pipeline that would have transported gas from the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean across northern Canada to Alberta, where it would be connected to existing pipelines and distributed throughout North America. The idea for the pipeline was first proposed in the 1970s and was intended to provide a reliable source of natural gas to meet growing demand in Canada and the United States.

The proposed pipeline route would have crossed the traditional territories of numerous Indigenous communities, and their support or opposition was seen as critical to the project’s success. After years of study and consultation, the Canadian government approved the pipeline project in principle in 1977, but it was later shelved due to a combination of low gas prices and regulatory hurdles.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline as a way to develop Canada’s northern resources and provide a new source of natural gas to help address climate change. However, there are also concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the project, as well as the need to obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous communities along the proposed route.

Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension
The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) is a subway extension of Line 1 Yonge-University of the Toronto subway system. It is a 8.6 km long extension that opened in December 2017, and it runs from the Sheppard West Station (formerly known as Downsview Station) to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station in the City of Vaughan.

The extension includes six new subway stations: Downsview Park, Finch West, York University, Pioneer Village, Highway 407, and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The stations are designed with modern architecture, artwork, and sustainable features, including green roofs, natural light, and energy-efficient systems.

The TYSSE was constructed to address the growing population in the northwest of Toronto and the City of Vaughan, and to provide better access to post-secondary institutions, employment, and residential areas. It is expected to serve over 100,000 riders per day and reduce travel times between Toronto and Vaughan by up to 30 minutes.