Construction Activities
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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
Click image to view full map details.
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 of a 596-metre-long bridge and six-kilometre highway grade at Cache Creek continues.
- Construction of the highway grade has wrapped up for the season and will restart next spring.
- Steel bridge girders will continue to be delivered and assembled on site and installed on the foundations. This may require 24-hour work or into the night.
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
- Work to install a new distribution line system along the new Highway 29 is underway. This work will be underway until mid-September.
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 158-metre-long bridge and 1.5-kilometre-long highway realignment.
Current activities
- Concrete bridge parapet construction will occur, including installation of formwork and rebar. Concrete will be poured in multiple lifts, and may require 24/7 operation.
- Following parapet installation, construction will be paused for the winter.
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
- Construction of a 417-metre-long bridge and 1.9-kilometre highway realignment at Farrell Creek continues.
- Construction of the highway grade has paused for winter.
- Steel girders will continue to be delivered and stored on the site. Steel girder installation will begin in January.
- Single lane alternating traffic will be required periodically.
Future activities
- 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.
Current activities
- Construction of a 3.5-kilometre-long highway realignment at Farrell Creek East continues.
- Traffic has been moved onto the new highway alignment.
- Construction is paused for the winter and will resume next spring.
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
- Construction of a 1.05-kilometre-long bridge and a three-kilometre highway realignment at Halfway River continues.
- Construction is paused for the winter and will resume next spring.
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
- Construction of a 152-metre-long bridge and 8.5-kilometre-long highway realignment at Lynx Creek is in progress.
- Highway construction will continue until mid-December and then pause for the winter.
- The delivery of pre-cast concrete deck panels and storage on site may occur.
- Clearing and mulching of trees and vegetation adjacent to Highway 29 will occur.