Construction on deck in all regions

(PHOTO: RAWF8 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / GETTY IMAGES)

BRITISH COLUMBIA

With current construction projects valued at roughly $157 billion, and some $174 billion in proposed projects, as reported in the BCCA’s Fall Stat Pack, most contractors are busy, although many of the projects listed in Infrastructure B.C.’s most recent major infrastructure projects brochure, including the Burnaby Hospital Phase 2 and BC Cancer Centre, won’t start actual construction until 2025. Key B.C. projects include Roberts Bank Terminal 2, the Highway 1 – 264th Street Interchange Project, and the $4.15-billion Fraser River Tunnel Project.

ALBERTA

Construction of the West Calgary Ring Road is expected to wrap up in 2024, as is the BMO Centre Expansion. Projects getting underway this year will include the West Runway Rehabilitation Project at the Calgary airport, and a new $800-million home arena for the Calgary Flames. The $9-billion high-speed rail line between Edmonton and Calgary is still in the proposed stage, as is Heidelberg Materials’ $1.4-billion Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage hub. Construction is underway on a new light rail transit vehicle garage and two stations.

SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan’s Major Capital Action Plan includes key infrastructure investments in the health, education and government services sectors. Key projects include a new $100-million 35-bed Weyburn General Hospital, the $100-million La Ronge Long Term Care Centre, the $45.9-million St. Frances Cree Bilingual School in Saskatoon, and a new Regina Urgent Care Centre.

MANITOBA

As of press time, True North Real Estate Development had yet to decide on a $550-million proposal to redevelop downtown Winnipeg’s Portage Place mall. If that proceeds, the city will see two new towers in the coming years. Underway is a $34-million rehab of the Rivers Dam located on Lake Wahtopanah and plans to build nine new schools are being reviewed.

ONTARIO

Ontario is flush with notable projects that will have construction firms busy for years to come. The Windsor area has a $4-billion EV battery plant in the works and the $6-billion Gordie Howe Bridge. Looking north, Bruce Power is exploring the adding 4.8 gigawatts of capacity to its plant, which would make it the largest nuclear plant in the world. Infrastructure Ontario currently has 29 projects in active construction, 15 it is procuring, and another 15 slated to begin procurement next year. Construction is underway on the South Niagara Hospital project and Volkswagen Group is building its first North American EV battery cell gigafactory in St. Thomas. In Toronto, major projects include the Ontario Line subway, Ontario Place’s revitalization plan, major renovations at Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena, and the Go rail network is expanding.

QUEBEC

The Provice of Quebec increased its allocation to the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (QIP) 2023-2033 to $150 billion, an increase of $7.5 billion from last year’s rolling 10-year plan. A little over $80 billion of that planned investment is allocated to infrastructure maintenance. Expansion of Montreal’s Réseau Express Métropolitain continues, and back in the news is a possible transportation tunnel linking Quebec City and Lévis. The expansion of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital appears to be moving forward, and the l’Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge is in need of replacement.

ATLANTIC CANADA

Energy is likely to create a number of new construction projects on Canada’s East Coast. Wind projects are in the works, and a recent application for a new $1.4-billion transmission line linking Nova Scotia and New Brunswick could see work start as early as next year. Highways are also attracting spend throughout the region.