Fort McMurray Construction

Xelebes · #1 Posted **Apr 28, 2009, 11:13 PM**

This thread is for the updates on the mega-projects and construction within and around Fort McMurray.

[Placeholder]

Megaprojects

Buildings

Edinburgh Tower - Seeking Contractors
Residential - 11 storey (~30 m)

Official web site where image is taken from

Quarry Ridge - Proposed

Link to site.

Roadwork & Infrastructure

Highway 67/Confederation Interchange - Under Construction

Athabasca River Bridge - Under Construction

Info

Highway 63 Twinning - Under Construction

Info

"Urban Freeway" - Planning

Info

Xelebes · #2 Posted **Apr 29, 2009, 1:18 AM**

Just going to copy from the old thread some photos taken by bulliver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

Couple shots I took a while back. I get up there often but never get time during daylight to take pictures.

Xelebes · #3 Posted **Apr 29, 2009, 1:19 AM**

Again for his last set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

So...just got back from FT. Mac. Folks who get up their often won't see anything new here, so this is for the people who have not made it up yet. I'll apologize in advance for the poor picture quality. They were all shot from a moving vehicle, many through a dirty windshield.

Anyway, as there is only one road, every trip to Ft Mac begins with highway 63 (Yes, I know about 881). Sadly, there were no drilling rigs being hauled up, but I did get some shots of some large objects getting hauled up there (click for bigger...)

You also have to deal with a non-stop parade of clowns flying by. Notice in the last shot, this guy passed us on a double-solid, even though the passing lane was literally right in front of us.

And the result of aggresive driving:

Rush hour, FT Mac style:

FT Mac by Night and day:

Hangingstone River crossing:

Footing for third Athabasca crossing:

Earthworks for Confederation drive/Hwy 63 interchange:

New Eagle Ridge Drive overpass:

Need an apartment? Plenty under constuction. Yours to rent for only $2000-2500/month

Growing family? Get a starter home for only $850000:

New Fire Department and RCMP buildings up in Timberlea:

And a bonus shot. These Diversified coaches are ubiquitous up here, they drive employees up to the suncore/syncrude sites which are another 45 minutes north on highway 63. This particular one is not having a good day:

Enjoy.......

hollywoodnorth · #4 Posted **Apr 29, 2009, 11:33 PM**

thanks!

bulliver · #5 Posted **Apr 30, 2009, 1:49 AM**

Thanks Xelebes,

I'll be heading up again on May 25. I'll see if I can get some better shots.

Great Dane · #6 Posted **May 1, 2009, 4:23 AM**

While I don't advocate passing on a double solid which is extremely stupid or on a single solid which is just as idiotic.. people who pass are not clowns.

I'm up in Ft. Mac right now on huge Business for the Mac Island Redev. Proj. and coming up I am so sick and tired of people shitting their pants on that highway. Granted, it is dangerous and a pain in the ass to drive but being stuck behind people doing 80 or 90 or barely a hair over 100 is just ridiculous.

Aggressive driving does not always lead to accidents; slow drivers are just as bad if not a lot worse.

Besides. Taking pictures on that highway is a lot more dangerous and if you weren't driving so slow, perhaps so many people wouldn't be passing you.

bulliver · #7 Posted **May 4, 2009, 4:34 PM**

^ First, I wasn't driving the vehicle, because (wait for it...) I was taking pictures, and second, we were doing the speed limit. And yes, people who pass you at well over the limit on portions with poor visibility are clowns. The vehicles smashed in the ditch prove my point, not yours.

I like driving fast too, but there is a time and place, and this highway is not it.

Great Dane · #8 Posted **May 10, 2009, 3:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

^ First, I wasn't driving the vehicle, because (wait for it...) I was taking pictures, and second, we were doing the speed limit. And yes, people who pass you at well over the limit on portions with poor visibility are clowns. The vehicles smashed in the ditch prove my point, not yours.

I like driving fast too, but there is a time and place, and this highway is not it.

That's nice, good for you.

First, when I pass I don't fuck around in the oncoming lane like some of the idiots in this province do. You know how many people I've seen pass a vehicle doing 100 at 105 on that highway? Now that's a clown for you. When I go with good visibility I accelerate to get back over as soon as possible, if that means passing in an area with a burst at 130 or 140 which is a simple tap of the pedal, so be it.

And for the record, I've seen many accidents on that highway and many of them are a result of an idiot attempting a futile passing at 105 kph and swerving, thus over-correcting back into their lane and veering off the road because they are unable to accelerate.

Xelebes · #9 Posted **May 10, 2009, 5:40 AM**

Let's keep the talk regarding dangerous driving to another thread. This is about Fort McMurray construction here.

ue · #10 Posted **May 10, 2009, 6:47 AM**

is that tower - edinburgh - under construction?

You might want to add:

Bond Centre

http://newstudio.ca/work/residential/bond-centre/1.jpg

Thanks Xelebes!

bulliver · #11 Posted **May 10, 2009, 2:47 PM**

EE: I couldn't find any info on the newstudio website that says those towers are for Ft Mac, do you have more info on them?

--

"‘Urban freeway’ in the works for Wood Buffalo":
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Pri...aspx?e=1509905

Plans for highway 63 upgrade in Ft McMurray:
http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/residen...CPI_partVI.pdf

Edit: Detailed plans of highway 63 (Warning: 47MB PDF):
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...s/FW_large.pdf

Xelebes · #12 Posted **May 10, 2009, 5:18 PM**

The Bond Centre was proposed a few years ago, around 2005 or so. I do not know what the status of those building are.

bulliver · #13 Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 4:13 AM**

Okay, was just up again last night. Got a few pics.

More big stuff getting hauled up. The highway was a lot busier with these huge loads than the last few times I went up. Sign of economic recovery?

Sorry, they were shot through a bug splattered windshield.

And in town.

Hangingstone River crossing appears to be ready to go soon...

This was the only major development downtown that I could find. Couple of 7 story apartment blocks. Not sure of names or details:

Third Athabasca crossing. This one is moving slow. It doesn't appear that much has been done since I started coming up here 2 years ago. Still just three footings, though notice they have attached some dohickey's which I assume are for attaching the deck beams. They have certainly started ramping up the earthworks on the downtown side of the bridge though...

And this is a couple of retaining walls for the ramps of the Thickwood Drive interchange:

itom 987 · #14 Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 4:24 AM**

There is a $500 million project planned for Fort McMurray called "Quarry Ridge".

Check it out!
http://www.hsea.ca/projects/8033/

bulliver · #15 Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 4:35 AM**

Looks good! Wonder why they're putting it at the top of the hill across from the industrial zone though..

ue · #16 Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 5:15 AM**

yeah i noticed that. it looks a little car centric, but good for fort mcmurray i'd say

.

fortroad · #17 Posted **Jun 26, 2009, 5:10 AM**

^ More like lifted 1 ton dually diesel centric.

RHINO · #18 Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 5:51 AM**

has anything in Ft.Mac changed in the last two month's?

fortroad · #19 Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

is that tower - edinburgh - under construction?

You might want to add:

Bond Centre

http://newstudio.ca/work/residential/bond-centre/1.jpg

Thanks Xelebes!

So I was discussing Bond Centre with a very good source and they said the developer has taken it off the table because they don't feel it is viable.

Xelebes · #20 Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 10:34 PM**

Duly noted. Thank you.