Project Background and Context
Paving of the 1,100 km Trans-Labrador Highway (“TLH”) was completed in July 2022. As the only highway serving Labrador, the TLH is a key piece of infrastructure that will support future industrial and economic growth in the region, as well as strengthen social and cultural connections.
However, Labrador’s most northerly communities are not connected to the TLH, leaving residents reliant on air and marine transport, with the latter only available in the summer when ports are ice-free. During the winter months, residents also make use of snowmobiles for travel. During the marine services operational season, the significant amount of time required to travel the north coast places limitations on both freight and passenger travel. A one-way sailing from Goose Bay to Nain covers a distance of 877 km and requires 36 hours of total sailing time, not including time spent loading and unloading at dockside. The route is serviced by a single ferry which completes one return trip per week.
Long shipping times for food and other goods, coupled with the unavailability of marine services during the winter months, result in significantly higher costs than in other areas of the province. Greater amounts of spoilage for fresh produce and other foods also impacts food costs and availability. Travel constraints impact not only the delivery of freight and travel by residents, but also tourism and other transportation in and out of north coast communities.
A road into northern Labrador would potentially start in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay/North West River area and extend as far north as Nain, including access roads to Postville, Makkovik, Hopedale, Rigolet and Natuashish. Constructing a road to cover this distance in remote and rough terrain would be a costly undertaking and require considerable time to plan, design, and complete.
At this time, there is insufficient information to inform a decision regarding such a project and, as such, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to conducting this pre-feasibility study.
The study should consider potential routes, post construction road maintenance and operation, and identify other key technical and non-technical factors that would require study and analysis to inform decision-making.
The study should also identify the significant socio-economic, cultural, and environmental considerations associated with the potential construction of new road infrastructure in this area, adjacent to several Indigenous peoples and communities. These considerations would include, but are not necessarily limited to: the social determinants of health (e.g., access to health services, social inclusion and connectivity); potential changes to the natural environment; Indigenous values, land use and knowledge; and residents’ views on the advantages and disadvantages of increased access to the area.
Contract Awarded
January 26, 2023
The Provincial Government is moving ahead with a pre-feasibility study on the construction of a road connecting the Trans-Labrador Highway to communities in northern Labrador.
A $269,350 contract has been awarded to Allnorth Consultants Limited to complete the study, which will undertake consultations in Labrador and will consider:
- The advantages and disadvantages of potential routes;
- The cost of constructing necessary infrastructure;
- Post-construction road maintenance;
- Weather conditions and climate change impacts; and
- Socio-economic and environmental impacts.
Indigenous land use, harvesting, and cultural and ecological values will be considered in all aspects of the study, as informed by consultations with the Nunatsiavut Government; five Inuit Community Governments of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, and Rigolet; Innu Nation; Mushuau Innu First Nation; and Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation; the NunatuKavut Community Council; the Town of North West River; and the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
A report on the study is due in late 2023. More details on the procurement of the study are available on merx.com.
The pre-feasibly study is the next step in improving transportation in Labrador. It follows more than 1,100 kilometres of paving on the Trans-Labrador Highway between the Labrador Straits and Labrador West, which was completed in July 2022. Nearly $1 billion has been invested to build and pave the highway since 1997, including more than $230 million since 2016.
Quotes
“This pre-feasibility study is an important next step to the potential development of a road into northern Labrador. This ensures government is doing its due diligence before moving ahead with a feasibility study and construction by considering the cost, impact on communities, settled or asserted Aboriginal rights, Indigenous values, land use and knowledge and consultation with people of the region.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“The Provincial Government is committed to mapping out a strategy to develop and improve the transportation network in Labrador. The contractor will assess the many factors associated with the concept of building a road that could link the North Coast to Central Labrador. This includes incorporating the views of residents and communities, which are essential in the study process.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
“The award of this contract is important for the people of Labrador, as it shows our commitment to the transportation network. I look forward to the consultations, analyses and recommendations as to how best to proceed.”
Perry Trimper
MHA for the District of Lake Melville
“I am pleased that we are another step closer to making this important infrastructure investment a reality by proceeding with this pre-feasibility study. Knowledge and guidance from Indigenous communities, consultations with local stakeholders, and environmental considerations from this study will provide the government with valuable information prior to its development. Our government continues to make transport in and out of Labrador’s north a top priority.”
Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Natural Resources and to the Federal Minister of Northern Affairs
Norlogics involvement
Matthew Pike (Owner/Principal Consultant of Norlogics, a 100% Nunatsiavut Inuit-owned business) will be leading all consultations for this study, with support from the Allnorth team.