Fort McMurray

Alberta’s biggest bridge will feature innovative design

The largest bridge deck in Alberta is being built in Fort McMurray, using an innovative design and unique approach to address population growth and the massive trucks carrying heavy loads to oilsands construction projects.

Growth of economy has put strain on infrastructure

The growth of the economy and population in Fort McMurray has put an enormous strain on public infrastructure, including housing, roads, bridges, schools, the airport, the water treatment plant, sewer system, recreational facilities and hospitals.

Highway upgrades designed to meet demand

Highway 63 is no longer able to accommodate the volume traffic generated in Fort McMurray, with about 50,000 vehicles per day using the road to cross existing bridges. This critical transportation link carries workers and heavy trucks with oversized equipment to and from oilsands construction projects.

Recession’s impact felt in Fort McMurray labour market

Skilled labour shortages are still a serious problem in the Fort McMurray labour market, despite a recession and the delay or cancellation of billions of dollars in oilsands construction projects.

Postponed or halted oilsands projects

Nexen Inc. and its partner Opti Canada have delayed a decision, in October 2008, on expanding their Long Lake oilsands operation because the credit crunch made it harder for the companies to raise capital.

Regional Economic Development Link opens doors for contractors

A unique economic development strategy is encouraging major construction firms and oil companies to use local businesses in Fort McMurray in their procurement of goods and services.

Oilsands: Canada’s new economic engine

The unprecedented scale of Alberta’s most recent economic boom has turned Fort McMurray and the oilsands region into Canada’s new economic engine.

Airport expansion delayed for third time

Construction has been delayed for the third time on the Fort McMurray Airport expansion project. The CEO of the new airport authority is in the process of creating a more viable development plan.

Oilsands companies develop private airstrips

Oilsands companies have developed alternatives to the Fort McMurray airport. Suncor Energy Inc., the world’s second-largest oilsands producer, built a private airstrip in 2007.

Oilsands construction activity picking up steam

One of the most important signs that the construction cycle in the oilsands energy sector is on the upturn is Suncor restarting work on the Firebag 3 facility.

Suncor Energy's Firebag 3 plant generates work

Lockerbie & Hole Industrial, a division of Aecon Lockerbie Industrial, last fall was awarded a contract to complete field construction on Suncor Energy’s Firebag 3 plant in the oilsands near Fort McMurray, Alta.

New Alberta pipeline will send bitumen to Shell's upgrader

Contractors working in extreme conditions with technology used in Canada for the first time are about to complete the construction of a pipeline system stretching from an oilsands mine near Fort McMurray to an upgrader north of Edmonton.

Hitachi pressure vessel makes big move from Saskatoon to Fort McMurray

The biggest load ever to travel on a provincial highway in Saskatchewan has completed its journey to an oilsands construction site in Alberta.

New Thunder Bay-to-Alberta shipping route handles cargo bound for oilsands

A new Canadian shipping route will allow cargo to flow to oilsands construction sites in Northern Alberta from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

First Nation part of Alberta oilsands housing project

A partnership between a First Nations group and an Alberta-based company is delivering housing and site support services to oilsands workers.

Construction restarts at stalled oilsands project in Fort McMurray, Alberta

The completion of a debt offering has kick started construction on a stalled oilsands project south of Fort McMurray. “We decided back in mid January to suspend the project because oil prices collapsed and the Western World, as we knew it, looked like it was coming to an end, thanks to the bankers,” said Dick Gusella, president and CEO of Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd.

Athabasca Minerals reports exceptional volume of work in 2008

One of the largest gravel pits in Canada had an exceptional 2008 due primarily to orders for construction work by three major oilsands companies in Alberta.

Western Canada’s largest recreation centre being built near Fort McMurray, Alberta

Western Canada’s largest recreation facility is under construction near Fort McMurray, but the project has run into some serious delays and cost escalation.

Fatality during early stages of Alberta oilsands project start-up

A 47-year-old contractor died on a construction site at an oilsands project in northern Alberta after being trapped underwater in an excavator.

New pipeline aims to take a bite out of oilsands emissions

Oklahoma-based Williams plans to build a pipeline that will generate some environmental benefits by transporting natural gas liquids from its extraction plant in Fort McMurray to its Redwater processing facility.

KWH Contractors of British Columbia win Suncor contract

KWH Contractors of Delta, B.C. have been awarded a contract for a structural steel modular construction project at Suncor’s Voyageur expansion program in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Suncor Energy drops $20 billion into northern Alberta oilsands project

Suncor Energy Inc. approved a multi-billion dollar expansion project to increase crude oil production at its oil sands operation near Fort McMurray in northern Alberta.

Petro-Canada defers contract with Bird Construction for six buildings at oilsands project

Petro-Canada’s has deferred a $107 million contract with Bird Construction Income Fund to build six buildings at the Fort Hills oil sands project near Fort McMurray.

Imperial Oil awards Kearl oilsands contract to AMEC

AMEC, an international engineering and project management firm, has been selected by Imperial Oil to oversee its planned Kearl oilsands facility north of Fort McMurray.