Deh Cho Bridge in NWT - July 12, 2012 construction photos

[oscar]

Below are several photos I took on Thursday of the cable-stayed Deh Cho Bridge over the Mackenzie River, under construction with completion slated for November 2012, on my way out of Yellowknife on NT 3.  The river crossing is now served by a small ferry vessel, which runs just a little downstream from the bridge project, and by an ice road when the river freezes over in the winter. 

First, an overview from a turnout on the north shore of the river, west of the project:



Here's a view of the north bridge approach being built, with the temporary access to the ferry landing on the right (the truck in the background on the right was already in line for the ferry):



Finally, a closer view of the bridge spans being completed, including the deck work that is still being done, from the north ferry landing after I got in line for the ferry:

[Dr Frankenstein]

Makes me want to drive all the way up there. But it'll be a while before I do.

[Bickendan]

I know, right? :s

Slightly related: It'll be interesting when NWT starts constructing the northern segment of NWT 1 up toward NWT 8. I wonder, once complete, if it'll bring traffic levels to require a year-round bridge over the Liard and Mackenzie Rivers.

[xcellntbuy]

Nice place to have a picnic table.

[oscar]

Nice place to have a picnic table.

So long as the black flies and other annoying bugs aren't out, as they were for me that day.  I had expected to deal with mosquitoes (which don't seem to attack me much, usually).  But the black flies didn't spare me and were usually awful, especially in the afternoon and doubly so in the vicinity of the bison herds that are prevalent on NT 3 and also the part of NT 5 passing through Wood Buffalo National Park.

[AsphaltPlanet]

It must cost a fortune to build things up there. Think of how far that structural steel would have had to have been trucked in for that structure.

Having driven the north would you recommend it?  (Aside from the bugs?)

[oscar]

Having driven the north would you recommend it?  (Aside from the bugs?)

Once the Deh Cho bridge is done, it'll be all pavement from Alberta to Yellowknife (except for gravel breaks for segments being rebuilt).  It's also all pavement from Alberta to Hay River.  Any place else means some driving on gravel roads, which aren't too bad except for when dust clouds from traffic up ahead make it hard to see the road in front of you. 

Also, it can take a long time to get anywhere, without much in the way of scenery along the way.  For example, it took me a full driving day from Fort Smith to Yellowknife, and I was beat at the end of that day.

And you need to be careful about gas availability, including stations that are open only a few hours a day, or towns where gas is available only at cardlock pumps (like Wrigley at the current west end of NT 1), which if they take credit cards at all may not take U.S.-issued cards like mine (which don't work for pay-at-the-pump in Canada, you have to go inside to pay -- but what if there's no live person around to take your money?).  Wrigley was my closest brush with disaster, though I had more than half a tank of gas when I got there, so I was able to turn around without refueling and make it back to Fort Simpson which has a conventional gas station. 

And cellphone service doesn't extend much beyond the major towns, though at least one town that supposedly didn't have a cell tower got one just recently (it can't handle smartphone functions, but worked fine for my dumb cell phone).  A toolkit, and if you have room an extra full-size spare (for the gravel roads), would be prudent so you're not overly dependent on the kindness of strangers.

But NT isn't as challenging as some other northern places, like Alaska, the Yukon, and Labrador (home to three of the longest gas-free stretches of highway in North America).

[agentsteel53]

But NT isn't as challenging as some other northern places, like Alaska, the Yukon, and Labrador (home to three of the longest gas-free stretches of highway in North America).

really?  there are longer segments in those 3 places than the 381km between services on the James Bay Road?  Alaska I know has the Dalton (252mi), but what are the other two?

I wouldn't be surprised if some places in Mexico are similarly gas-free.  there is a stretch of MX-2 between San Luis Rio Colorado and Sonoyta that approaches 200km without gas, and that is a major truck route! 

now, for a bridge photo.  September, 2011.



and yes, I definitely recommend it...



more here:
https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2011/10/03/northern-canada-sept-11-part-i/
https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2011/10/19/northern-canada-sept-11-part-ii/
https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2011/12/05/northern-canada-sept-11-part-iii-8/

[oscar]

But NT isn't as challenging as some other northern places, like Alaska, the Yukon, and Labrador (home to three of the longest gas-free stretches of highway in North America).

really?  there are longer segments in those 3 places than the 381km between services on the James Bay Road?  Alaska I know has the Dalton (252mi), but what are the other two?

The Trans-Labrador Highway has one 410km stretch with no services.  The Dempster Highway (NT 8/YT 5) has one almost as long as the Dalton's, at 369km.