East Side Road A U T H O R I T Y EAST SIDE TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE IN THIS ISSUE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON PR 304 TO BERENS RIVER ALL-SEASON ROAD PROJECT Loon and Longbody Creek bridge construction underway CANADA, MANITOBA AND BLOODVEIN PARTNER ON ACCESS ROAD PROJECT Pilot project to link community to all-season road LOCAL COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATE IN ALL-SEASON ROAD PROJECT $40 million invested in local communities TEMPORARY BRIDGES TO LENGTHEN WINTER ROAD SEASON Plans underway to install three bridges in Island Lake region STATUS UPDATE ON LARGE AREA TRANSPORTATION NETWORK STUDY ESRA to focus on local priority projects TRAINING UPDATE 176 local residents receive training EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Registration forms available online AVAILABLE LOCAL EQUIPMENT BEING SOUGHT Inventory of local equipment being established PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ESRA seeks input from local trappers and elders CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY Slow down when passing workers and equipment 2 4 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 MINISTER S MESSAGE Dear friends: Again this year, the communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg were impacted by an early closure of the winter road season. Fortunately, most communities were able to make necessary arrangements to bring in food, fuel and building materials during this short window. However, the early closure of the winter road system again reinforces the need for an all-season road network in the region. Recognizing this, the Manitoba government is moving forward with the East Side Transportation Initiative. As a first step, construction has begun on a 156-kilometre stretch from Provincial Road 304, near Hollow Water, to Berens River First Nation. Already, a new bridge over the Wanipigow River and seven kilometres of road construction has been completed (from kilometre # 48 to kilometre #55 on PR 304). Work currently underway includes construction of new bridges over Loon Creek and Longbody Creek along with 17 more kilometres of all-season roadway (from kilometre #55 to kilometre #67 and kilometre #88 to kilometre # 93) near Bloodvein. As construction of the all-season road network proceeds, improvements are also being made to the winter road system, including the installation of Acrow panel bridges at strategic locations, which will help extend the length of time local residents can use the winter roads. All of this work is happening with the participation of local east side communities. The East Side Road Authority (ESRA) is the provincial agency managing the project. ESRA and all 13 east side First Nations have signed community benefits agreements (CBAs), valued at $76.65 million. These agreements provide opportunities for local communities to provide preconstruction services such as gravel crushing and right-of-way clearing. They also provide training opportunities for local residents, giving local people knowledge and experience they need to find future work. In this way, CBAs help build capacity in the communities and ensure they are ready for other opportunities that the all-season road and other projects will provide well into the future. As the single biggest economic development opportunity in the history of this region, the all-season road project provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We look forward to working with local residents to generate long lasting benefits for local people while making the dream of an all-season road a reality. Thank you, Miigwech, Ekosani, ERIC ROBINSON Minister responsible for the East Side Road Authority
PR 304 TO BERENS RIVER ALL SEASON ROAD PROJECT UPDATE With over $50 million in construction tenders awarded, construction is moving forward on a 156 kilometre all-season road from PR 304, near Hollow Water First Nation, to Berens River First Nation. Completed Projects 1. Installation of a temporary detour bridge over the Wanipigow River was undertaken by Minty s Moving and cost $2.1 million. 2. Wanipigow River Bridge Surespan Construction undertook the construction of the new Wanipigow River Bridge which was completed before this past winter road season. Associated road works are still under construction and are scheduled for completion this spring. The project cost is estimated at $4.9 million. 3. Baudry Construction undertook road construction from kilometre #48 to kilometre #55, which was completed last fall and valued at $7.1 million. 4. Contract R6 Road base construction of a camp-toquarry road was completed last fall by BFN Construction Inc.. BFNCI is a construction company owned by Bloodvein First Nation. The project was valued at $3.3 million. 5. Contract B3P Camster Construction Ltd. undertook the Bloodvein River Backwater Channel Preload project, valued at $684,250. < EAST SIDE ROAD
Ongoing Projects 1. Loon Creek Bridge Surespan Construction is undertaking the construction of a new bridge over Loon Creek, located at kilometre #53, estimated at $4.5 million. 2. Contract B4 Longbody Creek Bridge Surespan Construction is undertaking the construction a new bridge over Longbody Creek, located at kilometre # 84, estimated at $13.3 million. 3. Contract R8 Western Specialty Contracting is undertaking 5 kilometres of road construction from kilometre #88 to kilometre #93, estimated at $6.4 million. 4. Tender R3 Hugh Munro Construction Ltd. is undertaking 12 kilometres of road construction from kilometer #55 to kilometer #67, estimated at $14.8 million. This past winter, a temporary work bridge was erected over Longbody Creek at kilometre # 84 near Bloodvein First Nation to allow crews to continue working on the new bridge after the river ice has melted. During the past winter road season, bridge girders were transported north along PR 304 and the Rice River Road to be installed at new bridge sites at Loon Creek and Longbody Creek. Construction of a new bridge over the Wanipigow River was completed in January, 2012 and prior to the opening of winter road season. Construction of the all-season road from kilometre #48 to #55, extending the Rice River Road. On April 25, 2012, Ernie Gilroy, CEO of ESRA (second from the left), gave the keynote address focusing on economic development related to the all-season road project at a luncheon put on by the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce. Also in attendance was Eric Robinson, Minister responsible for ESRA (first from the left), the luncheon sponsor, Chubb Chabot, owner of L.Chabot Enterprises, and Master of Ceremonies, Karl Zadnik. EAST SIDE ROAD> 3
CANADA, MANITOBA AND BLOODVEIN PARTNER ON ACCESS ROAD PROJECT Earlier this year, Canada, Manitoba and Bloodvein First Nation announced a pilot project to fund the construction of an access road on-reserve that will connect Bloodvein First Nation to the province s all-season road network. As part of the agreement, the federal government is contributing $2.67 million, the Manitoba government (through ESRA) is contributing $830,000 and Bloodvein First Nation is contributing $390,000 to the construction of the 2.5 kilometre access road. Work on the road began in January and was completed this spring. Approximately 50 Bloodvein First Nation residents worked on the project. LOCAL COMMUNITIES HELP BUILD ALL-SEASON ROAD A Bloodvein First Nation resident is employed as a flag person on the all-season road project. Timber harvested is gathered by local workers, piled and made available to local residents for firewood to heat homes. Crews drill holes for blasting in a quarry near Bloodvein First Nation. ESRA is committed to ensuring local east side residents participate in and benefit from the all-season road project. To achieve this, ESRA is investing approximately 35 per cent, or $315 million, of the overall road construction budget in jobs, training and economic development opportunities for local residents over the next 15 years. ESRA is investing in local communities through: Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) These agreements provide jobs, training, mentoring and economic development opportunities for local communities from pre-construction activities such as gravel crushing, right-of-way and exploratory clearing. To date, ESRA has signed CBAs, worth $76.65 million with all 13 east side First Nation communities. As of April 1, 2012, ESRA has invested over $40 million directly into local east side First Nations. ESRA is planning to enter into additional CBAs with all 13 First Nations as the project proceeds. These communities have started work under CBAs: Hollow Water First Nation doing right-of-way clearing, road maintenance and gravel crushing Bloodvein First Nation doing right-of-way clearing, gravel crushing, producing blast rock and access road construction Berens River First Nation doing right-ofway clearing and gravel crushing Wasagamack First Nation doing right-ofway clearing and installing an Acrow panel bridge at Mainland River Red Sucker Lake First Nation doing right of way clearing and installing an Acrow panel bridge over the Red Sucker River In addition to the CBA work, ESRA has established clauses in construction tenders that require contractors to hire at least 30 per cent of road construction and 20 per cent of bridge construction workers from among east side residents. Priority is given to newly trained workers. As the project proceeds, ESRA will be requiring that contractors give priority to local suppliers for purchasing goods and services. Local residents help with right-of-way clearing on a section of the all-season road near Bloodvein First Nation. < EAST SIDE ROAD
INSTALLATION OF BRIDGES TO LENGTHEN WINTER ROAD SEASON In the long term, the unreliable, seasonal ice roads that service the isolated communities on the east side will be replaced by the all-season road network. As this work proceeds, ESRA is working with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation to improve the reliability of existing winter road season. The all-season roads that are being constructed follow current winter roads as much as possible to limit the impact on the environment. This means that year over year, as the length of the all-season road increases, the number of kilometres of winter roads that must be built and maintained will be decreased. This provides an opportunity for ESRA to focus its efforts on areas that are considered the weakest links in the winter road network. This includes road sections and river crossings that melt quickly during the spring thaw. By focusing on improving these areas, the length of time that the winter roads could be used will be increased. A good example is the installation of three Acrow panel bridges in the Island Lake region across the Mainland, Stevenson and Red Sucker Rivers. Here, ESRA is working with local communities to install Three Acrow panel bridges are being installed near the Island Lake region. Once installed, they will help to increase the winter road season three bridges that will enable ESRA staff to access points along the east-west all-season road routes while, at the same time, improving winter road access for local residents and commercial truckers. Mehkana Development Corporation, a construction company owned by Wasagamack First Nation, will be installing a bridge at Mainland River while a construction company owned by Red Sucker Lake First Nation will be installing a new bridge over the Red Sucker River. Weather permitting, both bridges are scheduled for completion next winter road season. Plans are also underway for installation of a new bridge over the Stevenson River for the 2014 winter road season. Crews work to disassemble the temporary Acrow panel detour bridge that was used during the construction of the new Wanipigow River Bridge. These bridges are prefabricated and shipped by truck in pieces for onsite installation. Shipping a bridge in pieces means it can be transported to remote sites using existing winter roads. Once they have been used at one location and are no longer required, they can be taken apart and moved to a new site. This bridge will be shipped in pieces to a site at Stevenson River where it will be assembled and used to lengthen the winter road season. EAST SIDE ROAD >
STATUS UPDATE ON LARGE AREA TRANSPORTATION NETWORK STUDY In June 2011, ESRA officially released the final report of the Large Area Transportation Network Study that outlined the all-season road network for the east side of Lake Winnipeg. The network consists of two main arteries and includes: PR 304 to Berens River First Nation Poplar River from the all-season road from PR 304 to Berens River First Nation Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nation to a midway point along the all-season road from PR 304 to Berens River First Nation linking the northern Cree and Island Lake communities to PR 373 Grand Rapids First Nations to a common airport ESRA is engaging both communities to identify and select the route corridors identified in the Large Area Transportation Network study with each First Nation By focusing on these priority projects, ESRA will be able to engage local communities earlier in the process to undertake pre-construction work, providing jobs, training and economic development opportunities for local residents. The all-season road from PR 304 to Berens River First Nation has already received federal and provincial environmental authorizations and is currently under construction. Project design and environmental assessment is now being undertaken for the overall road network. ESRA is also working with local communities to identify priority projects that will provide more immediate benefits to local communities. Some of the priority projects that are moving forward include: Theresa Point First Nations to a common airport detailed design is currently underway to finalize the road design between the communities and Red Sucker Lake preliminary design work is underway to develop the road design between the communities < EAST SIDE ROAD
TRAINING UPDATE As part of the Community Benefits Agreements, ESRA, in co-operation with local chiefs and councils, provides training related to all-season road construction for local residents. The training includes introduction to construction, labour skills, operation of heavy equipment, first aid and using chainsaws safely. To date, 176 people have been provided training opportunities in the following communities: Berens River First Nation (September 2009) 15 graduates 2009) five graduates (December 2009) 12 graduates 21 graduates Bloodvein First Nation two graduates (September 2010) 10 graduates (November, 2011) 13 graduates (January, 2012) eight graduates (March, 2012) 14 graduates Hollow Water First Nation (November 2010) 12 graduates 2011) eight graduates (September, 2011) 14 graduates Wasagamack First Nation (December 2010) 11 graduates 12 local residents graduated from an Introduction to Construction course held in Manto Sipi Cree Nation in February, 2012 Red Sucker Lake First Nation April, 2011) nine graduates Poplar River First Nation (May, 2011) 10 graduates Manto Sipi Cree Nation Introduction to Construction (February, 2012) 12 graduates As the project proceeds, ESRA is committed to working with east side communities to offer more training programs in east side communities. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING As construction proceeds, ESRA is encouraging local east side residents to register for employment and training opportunities on the project. As part of an Introduction to Construction Course in Hollow Water First Nation, students learn to gear up with personal protective equipment. As part of ESRA s commitment to ensure that local residents participate in and benefit from the project, ESRA is including local hiring requirements in construction tenders. The local hiring requirement is 30 per cent for road construction tenders and 20 per cent for bridge construction tenders. Residents living in communities that are within the vicinity of the construction are given the first priority for these job opportunities. To apply, go to the ESRA website at www.eastsideroadauthority.mb.ca, or contact: The East Side Road Authority 200 155 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8 Fax: 204-948-2462 On September 19, 2011, ESRA staff held an employment and training registration session in Bloodvein First Nation. EAST SIDE ROAD>
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT A meeting was held in Bunibonibee Cree Nation on July 13, 2011 to seek input from local trappers on the all-season road route near the community. A community meeting was held in Little Grand Rapids on February 15, 2012 to discuss the all-season road route near the community. As part of its ongoing commitment to public engagement, ESRA has been visiting local communities to hear from elders, trappers, resource users and community members about their views on the selected all-season road routes near their communities. The input received on trap lines, hunting areas, historical and archaeological sites and sacred spaces as well as feedback on route options and river and bridge crossings sites has been invaluable in selecting road alignments and project planning. Meetings have been held in Bloodvein, Bunibonibee, Little Grand Rapids, Manto Sipi, Poplar River, Red Sucker Lake and Wasagamack First Nations. In addition, ESRA has been engaging local community advisory and resource boards in Hollow Water, Bloodvein, Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids, and Poplar River First Nations. As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process, ESRA has also undertaken Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) studies for all of the east side communities. Based on input received through community meetings and TEK studies, ESRA is refining the routes. For more information, please visit www.eastsideroadauthority.mb.ca AVAILABLE LOCAL EQUIPMENT BEING SOUGHT To assist in training and construction, ESRA is looking for local heavy equipment and developing an inventory of heavy equipment that is available in east side communities that could be used by ESRA or contractors. The equipment must be in good working condition. Anyone interested in renting their equipment to the project, should register online with ESRA at: www.eastsideroadauthority.mb.ca, or contact the East Side Road Authority. SLOW DOWN WHEN PASSING WORKERS AND EQUIPMENT With construction underway on the all-season road network, local residents are reminded to always slow down and use caution when approaching workers and equipment. At km 1, signs remind drivers to take precautions when traveling on the winter road. CONTACT INFORMATION The East Side Road Authority 200 155 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3H8 Phone: 204-945-4900 in Winnipeg East Side Road A U T H O R I T Y