Ruskin Construction builds bridge across Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories

The Deh Cho Bridgenear Fort Providence, Northwest Territories is the first permanent structure across the Mackenzie River.

Canada’s largest river has now been spanned.

Truss sections connecting the north and south sections of the Deh Cho Bridge recently joined together. The cablestay bridge near Fort Providence, Northwest Territories is the first permanent structure across the Mackenzie River.

The connection will allow the next phases of work to take place, including the erection of the remaining A-pylon and cables and the placement of deck panels.

“Our staff and contractors have worked through the winter to connect the north and south sections of the bridge, sometimes in unpleasant and difficult conditions,” said transportation minister David Ramsay.

Once the deck panels and A-pylons are in place, grouting and paving of the driving surface are expected to occur over the summer. Work on the abutments and the placement of the guardrail will follow, likely in the fall of 2012.

The prime contractor is Ruskin Construction Ltd., with Infinity Engineering Group as the design engineer and Associated Engineering as the project manager.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is building the bridge, which will replace the operations of the Merv Hardie ferry and the Mackenzie River ice crossing currently at that location.

The bridge will be financed by the savings from the elimination of the ferry and ice bridge operation, $2 million annually (inflating) from the Government of Northwest Territories and a toll on commercial vehicles crossing the bridge. Passenger vehicles will not be charged a toll.

Project completion is slated for the late fall of 2012, depending on construction progress on the remaining work.

DCN NEWS SERVICES