Rehabilitation of Six Thunder Bay Structural Culverts

Highway 11/17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, serves as a vital link between eastern and western Canada, carrying more than 6,000 vehicles daily through the Thunder Bay region in northwestern Ontario. Beneath this critical corridor lie six structural culverts that channel local watercourses and fisheries under the highway, including locations at: 

• Corbett Creek.
• McIntyre Creek. 
• John Street. 
• McVicar’s Creek. 
• Wild Goose Creek. 
• Blind Creek. 

Our Ontario-based team is creating detailed designs for five culvert rehabilitations and a preliminary design for one culvert rehabilitation or replacement. Comprehensive field investigations verified existing conditions to tailor our rehabilitation strategies to each structure’s unique challenges, ensuring long-term performance.

To maximize construction efficiency and minimize disruption, the five rehabilitations are being grouped into two separate construction contracts based on location. This approach allows contractors greater flexibility while optimizing project sequencing and resource use. Construction is anticipated to occur within a single season and will reinforce Thunder Bay region’s infrastructure for decades to come.

Originally constructed in the 1960s by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), these culverts vary in size and shape from 3.1-meter-wide elliptical corrugated steel pipes to a 10.05-meter-wide cast-in-place concrete open arch. Decades of service have taken their toll, and the structures now require rehabilitation to maintain safety, functionality, and longevity. The challenge lies in completing these essential upgrades while minimizing traffic impacts, preserving hydraulic performance, and ensuring compliance with strict environmental and regulatory requirements.