Construction Team:
Contract Manager: Dave Scragg Site Superintendent: Elvin Yanish
Between Fort Chip and Fort Smith
Reviere Des Rochers Boat Tramway Rehabilitation
The Reviere Des Rochers river is a main mode of transportation for the area Natives to travel between Fort Chip and Fort Smith. However, a dam in the river bars them from traveling straight through by water.
The boat tramway was built several years ago to allow the traffic to continue down the river. The dam was built so that all the water would not flow into Lake
Athabasca. The boat tramway on the Riviere Des Rochers was in need of
an upgrading with new solar power, battery-operated winch, a pre-engineered steel building, control panel, minor excavation, concrete, and metal works. Carmacks worked closely with Highline Minute Man, the electrical contractor on this job.
Because of the remote location of the worksite, 50 kms. by water or air from Fort Chipewan, Alberta, the transporting of goods and materials was somewhat cumbersome. Three full cargo planes transported materials and supplies from Ft McMurray to Fort Chip and from Fort Chip to the worksite, it took 16 helicopter
trips to complete delivery of all the materials.
Using local people, the workers traveled by boat to the job site each day. The job was completed in 8 days, six days earlier than scheduled.
Download PDF.