Timiskaming Dam Complex - Ontario Dam Replacement

Timiskaming Dam Complex (From left to right: Ontario Dam, Long Sault Island, and Quebec Dam)

Background

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is responsible for 19 engineering assets across the country, including the Timiskaming Dam Complex, and is carrying out a five-year major capital work plan to ensure they remain safe. As part of this plan, PWGSC is proceeding with the replacement of the Ontario portion of the dam.

The Timiskaming Dam Complex is located approximately 65 kilometres northeast of North Bay, Ontario, on the border between Quebec and Ontario. It includes two structurally independent dams, the Ontario dam and the Quebec dam, which are located on opposite sides of Long Sault Island in the Ottawa River. Long Sault Island and the Ontario dam are located in Ontario while the Quebec dam is primarily located in Quebec, with a portion in Ontario.

A roadway extends over the top of the dams and across the island and connects Highway 63, which originates in North Bay, Ontario, with Highway 101, which extends north to Macamic, Quebec. The roadway has one lane in each direction and includes an adjacent pedestrian pathway.

The dams were built between 1909 and 1913 by the Government of Canada in order to control the water level in Lake Timiskaming upstream and the flow of the Ottawa River downstream. Both dams are constructed of concrete structures that control the water flow by means of sluices containing removable stoplogs. The dams control the last major reservoir on the Ottawa River upstream from the St. Lawrence River at Montréal.

The Timiskaming Dam Complex is an important part of local and regional infrastructure as it performs numerous functions, the most important being water level control and water storage for hydroelectric generation downstream. It also provides an important interprovincial transportation link and accommodates a natural gas pipeline.

Scope of the activities

The Ontario dam of the complex is now at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. The new Ontario dam will involve a realignment. This will allow traffic to continue to use the existing roadway until the new dam is complete.

Ontario Dam of the Timiskaming Dam Complex

The general scope of work for the Timikaming Dam (Ontario portion) Project is as follows:

• construct a new dam close to the existing one;
• remove the existing structure; and
• allow continuing traffic during construction.

During construction and future operation of the dam complex, PWGSC will continue to work with the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board to ensure the integrated management of the Ottawa River's principal reservoirs.

Upcoming activities

PWGSC issued a Request for Proposal for the tendering for an engineering design consultant for the dam replacement project. This process was conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX).

On October 9, 2012, the department announced the award of a $1,9M engineering design contract to Hatch Limited of Niagara Falls, Ontario, for the replacement of the Ontario Dam at the Timiskaming Dam Complex.

The design work is expected to be completed in 2014. PWGSC will then solicit bids for the construction work, which is expected to begin in 2014 and be completed in early 2016.

For further information on the recent announcement regarding public infrastructure investments, please see Canada News Centre.

Environmental Effects Evaluation pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012

As part of the Timiskaming Ontario Dam Replacement Project (TODR), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is required to ensure that an evaluation of environmental effects is conducted pursuant to Section 67 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) through the Departmental Environmental Effects Evaluation (EEE) process.

The EEE will evaluate options for the replacementof the Ontario portion of the Timiskaming Dam. The scope of the EEE process will encompass the proposed options for completing the Timiskaming Ontario Dam Replacement Project. This includes any construction staging areas and in-water works and other undertakings directly associated with the project. The operations of the new dam will maintain the existing regime of water levels and flows upstream and downstream of the site.

The completion of the EEE is anticipated by fall of 2013.

Feedback and contacts

If you would like to obtain more information, please contact PWGSC's Real Property Branch.