Highway 29
Connecting the community of Hudson's Hope with the Alaska Highway and Fort St. John, Highway 29 winds along the north side of the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia.
When reservoir filling begins in September 2023, the Site C reservoir will widen the Peace River by two-to-three times, covering parts of the highway.
As a result, BC Hydro is partnering with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to realign segments of Highway 29. Construction started in 2018 and will continue until mid-2023.
The work involves designing and building 32 km of highway, including new bridges at Cache Creek, Halfway River, Lynx Creek, Dry Creek and Farrell Creek.
Realigning each segment involves:
- Geotechnical, environmental, and archeological studies
- Improved highway alignments, including grading, paving and bridge construction
- Geotechnical stabilization works
- Moving electrical and phone lines to accommodate new highway construction
- Decommissioning the existing highway after construction
During construction, the highway will remain open to ensure efficient movement through the construction sites.
Some minor delays should be expected, and drivers should slow down and obey all traffic control personnel and signage. Get the latest traffic updates at drivebc.ca.
Learn more
- Highway 29 Description of construction activities PDF • 240 KB
- June 12, 2020: Public advisory - Hauling from Portage Mountain Quarry through Hudson's Hope
Highway 29 segments for realignment
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Digital rendering of future Cache Creek Bridge.
Segment length: 6 km
Construction: 2019 to 2023
At Cache Creek East, the new reservoir will cover the existing highway, requiring us to build a new highway alignment and a new bridge across Cache Creek. We will be building an embankment on the easternmost portion of this segment.
Current activities
Construction is continuing on the Cache Creek East embankment including highway hauling of materials from the Peaceview Borrow area. Drivers can expect minor delays.
- Site drainage
- Excavation, placing and grading granular materials
- Removing vegetation and debris
- Geotechnical drilling
- Grading, paving and bridge construction
Click image to view full map details.
Digital rendering of future Cache Creek Bridge.
Segment length: 4 km
Construction: 2018 to 2021
Construction of Cache Creek West began in 2018. This four-kilometre segment of highway west of the Cache Creek Bridge will be realigned to prepare for reservoir filling in September 2023.
Current activities
- Construction is complete.
Click image to view full map details.
Digital rendering of future Dry Creek Bridge.
Segment length: 1.5 km
Construction: late 2020 to 2022
A segment of Highway 29 at Dry Creek will be covered by the new reservoir. The new alignment for this segment includes design and construction of 1.5 km of new highway and a 158-metre-long bridge.
Current activities
- Site preparation
- Contractor mobilization: Moving equipment, crews and materials to site
- Road construction, including grading, paving and culvert construction
Click image to view full map details.
Digital rendering of future Farrell Creek bridge.
Segment length: 2 km
Construction: late 2020 to 2023
This segment of highway at Farrell Creek will be covered by the new reservoir. The new alignment involves construction of a new bridge across Farrell Creek.
Current activities
- Archaeological studies
Future activities
- Site preparation
- Road construction, including grading, paving and bridge construction
Click image to view full map details.
Segment length: 3 km
Construction: early 2021 to 2023
While the existing stretch of Highway 29 east of Farrell Creek will not be covered by the new reservoir, it may be more prone to erosion. For this reason, we are relocating the highway north, outside of the impacted area.
Future activities
- Site preparation
- Road construction, including grading and paving
Click image to view full map details.
Segment length: 4 km
Construction: 2018 to 2023
We began preparing for construction of the realignment at Halfway River in early 2019. In this area, the reservoir will cover the existing highway and bridge, requiring re-alignment of the highway and construction of a new bridge. This new segment of highway will be three kilometres long, and the new bridge will be one kilometre long.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded the contract for construction of this segment to Eiffage-Infracon Halfway River Joint Venture (Note: This joint venture is not affiliated with Halfway River First Nations).
Computer rendering of future bridge over Halfway River
Current activities
- The installation of bridge foundation piles may resume.
- Surveying and vegetation removal will occur in the Halfway River area, for a new distribution line.
Click image to view full map details.
Learn more
Digital rendering of the future Lynx Creek bridge"
Segment length: 8 km
Construction: 2019 to 2023
As the longest segment of highway to be realigned, it will take four years to construct the Lynx Creek segment. These eight kilometres of highway include a new bridge, causeway, and embankment.
Click image to view full map details.
Current activities
- Lynx Creek East embankment is complete.
- Rock hauling may occur from the Portage Mountain Quarry to the Lynx Creek construction site near the Lynx Creek bridge, and to the Dry Creek construction site.
