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 at Cache Creek includes clearing vegetation, access construction, aggregate processing and stockpiling and topsoil stripping. Burning of waste wood may occur, as well as hauling of merchantable logs to mills.
- The contractor is installing piles for bridge foundations. This includes drilling into bedrock, the installation of steel pile casings and the installation of concrete.
- The contractor is also constructing a temporary detour and bridge beside the existing Cache Creek bridge, which will be used in the unlikely event that the existing bridge is impacted by the diversion head pond.
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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.
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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
- Construction at Dry Creek is on temporary winter shutdown and will resume in early 2021.
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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 is continuing on the new highway and bridge at Farrell Creek. Current activities include access construction, tree clearing, stripping, grubbing, aggregate processing and stockpiling.
- Tree clearing and vegetation removal continues.
- Excavations and the construction of berms for bridge foundations are in progress.
Future activities
- Road construction, including grading, paving and bridge construction
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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
- Crews and equipment may begin mobilizing to site.
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 is continuing on the new highway and bridge at Farrell Creek. Current activities include access construction, aggregate processing and stockpiling, development of material disposal and extraction areas and site preparation for bridge foundations.
- Tree clearing and vegetation removal will continue as needed. Burning of waste wood may occur, as well as hauling of merchantable logs to mills.
- Excavations and the construction of berms for bridge foundations are in progress.
- The installation of bridge piles will continue including drilling into bedrock, installing steel pile casings and pouring concrete.
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
- Work to relocate the distribution line in this area continues.
- Activities at the site include clearing, grubbing, and stripping of work areas, as well as the construction of access roads.
- Gravel extraction will occur at various locations including Gates Island; gravel will be hauled and placed along the new highway alignment.
- Burning of waste wood may occur, as well as hauling merchantable logs to mills.
