Trans-Labrador Highway
Trans-Labrador Highway | |
|---|---|
| Route 500 Route 510 | |
 QC 389 & Trans-Labrador Hwy, Paved and unpaved | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Transportation and Infrastructure | |
| Length | 1,149 km (714 mi) |
| Route 500 | |
| Length | 543 km (337 mi) |
| South end |  R-389 at Quebec border near Labrador City |
| Major intersections |  Route 503 in Wabush Route 510 near Happy Valley-Goose Bay |
| North end |  Route 520 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay |
| Route 510 | |
| Length | 606 km (377 mi) |
| South end |  R-138 at Quebec border near Blanc-Sablon, QC |
| Major intersections |  Route 516 to Cartwright Route 513 to St. Lewis |
| North end |  Route 500 near Happy Valley-Goose Bay |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Highway system | |
|
| |
 Route 503Route 510 Route 513 | |
The Trans-Labrador Highway (TLH) is the primary public road in Labrador, the mainland portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The highway's total length is 1,149 km (714 mi). The paving of the entire highway was completed in July 2022.[1]
The original western/central portion of the TLH is designated as Route 500 and measures 543 km (337 mi) divided as follows:
- Quebec - Labrador boundary to Labrador City/Wabush (18 km (11 mi), asphalt surface)
- Labrador City/Wabush to Churchill Falls (244 km (152 mi), asphalt surface)
- Churchill Falls to Happy Valley-Goose Bay (281 km (175 mi), asphalt surface)
Heading southeast is Route 510, the north portion of the TLH that has been designated Labrador Coastal Drive and measures 606 km (377 mi) divided as follows:
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Cartwright Junction (251 km (156 mi) asphalt, 36 km (22 mi) gravel, the remainder was paved in 2022[2]
- Cartwright Junction to Port Hope Simpson (103 km (64 mi), asphalt surface)[3]
- Port Hope Simpson to Mary's Harbour (51 km (32 mi), asphalt surface)
- Mary's Harbour to Lodge Bay (12 km (7.5 mi), asphalt surface)
- Lodge Bay to Red Bay (78 km (48 mi), asphalt surface)
- Red Bay to Quebec - Labrador boundary via Blanc-Sablon (77 km (48 mi), asphalt surface)
The TLH runs through dense wilderness for most of its length with no roadside services between communities. Route 500 connects with Quebec Route 389, which runs 567 km (352 mi) through wilderness north from Baie-Comeau to the Quebec - Labrador boundary. Cell phone reception along the Trans-Labrador Highway is limited.[4]
In the 2020 budget, the provincial government allocated $200,000 for a pre-feasibility study for a road to connect the north coast of Labrador to the Trans-Labrador Highway.[5][6][7]
Construction and development
Phase I, upgrading Labrador West to Happy Valley-Goose Bay
The original TLH from Labrador West (Labrador City/Wabush) to Happy Valley-Goose Bay was completed in 1992.[8][9][10] Some sections were poorly built or in need of upgrades due to increased traffic use, particularly the section between Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. In the summer of 1999, $60 million was allocated to upgrade the highway as part of the "Labrador Transportation Initiative".[11]
The Phase I section of the TLH began undergoing paving operations in 2009;[12] by October 2011, a stretch of approximately 140 km (87 mi) leading east from Labrador West had been paved, as well approximately 100 km (62 mi) heading west from Goose Bay towards Churchill Falls.[13][14] The entire Phase I section of the TLH was completed in 2015.[15][16][17][18][19]
Route 510
In 1997 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador committed to building an extension of the TLH, connecting Happy Valley-Goose Bay with an existing isolated road network serving coastal communities on the Strait of Belle Isle.[20] The impetus for this project was the federal government's desire to cut costs and remove itself from subsidizing coastal ferry service to Labrador outports which was being provided by the federal Crown corporation Marine Atlantic.[21]
These federal cuts were completed in 1997, under the moniker Labrador Transportation Initiative, when an agreement was signed which saw the federal government transfer ownership and operation of two ferry vessels, along with C$340 million for extending Labrador's road network.[22] A key component to this plan was $150 million to upgrade coastal Labrador marine services, including a newer high-capacity ferry for the St. Barbe-Blanc Sablon service across the Strait of Belle Isle.
Phase II, Red Bay to Cartwright Junction
Phase II of new construction, costing $130 million, began in 1999 and saw Route 510 extended 323 km (201 mi) over four years from its terminus in Red Bay northeast to the port of Cartwright.[23][24][25][26] This section was paved as far as Cartwright Junction, the unpaved remainder (to Cartwright) being designated Highway 516.
Phase III, Cartwright Junction to Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Phase III is a 250 km (160 mi) section of Route 510 built for $130 million south of Lake Melville/Hamilton Inlet to connect Cartwright Junction (94 km (58 mi) south west of Cartwright) with Happy Valley-Goose Bay, completed sufficiently to open to traffic as a gravel road on 16 December 2009.[27][28] During 2010, two permanent bridges, road surface work, signage, and guardrails were completed at a cost of $15 million. The road was then paved except for 36 km (22 mi) from Cartwright Junction westward to Paradise Heights (the divide between the basins of the Paradise River and the Eagle River).[29][30] The remainder was completed in July 2022.[31][32][33]
Route 516 and supplementary routes
Phase II involved completion of highway north to Cartwright from Red Bay, and was opened in 2002. Although the entire route was initially designated as Route 510, upon completion of Phase III, the northern 94 km (58 mi) from Cartwright Junction (to Cartwright) was designated as Route 516.
Phase II also included other branch routes:
- Route 513 to St. Lewis
- Route 514 to Charlottetown and Pinsent Arm
A segment of Quebec Route 138 extends from Old Fort, Quebec to the Newfoundland and Labrador border connecting with Route 510 near Blanc-Sablon on the eastern end of the Côte-Nord.[34] A gap remains between Kegashka and Old Fort, through isolated communities accessible only by coastal ferry.[35][36] On August 25, 2006, the Quebec government announced a 10-year project to connect the two segments by building 425 km of highway along the Lower North Shore. As of 2022, the highway has not been completed.[37][38]
Kilometre markers
Route 500
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0 | 0.0 | R-389 south – Fermont, Baie-Comeau | Services 3 km (2 mi) to the south in Fermont. | |
| Quebec border | |||||
| Labrador City | 17– 19 | 11– 12 | All services | ||
| Wabush | 21 | 13 |  Route 503 south – Wabush Airport | ||
| | 58 | 36 | spring | Drinking water (at your own risk) | |
| 61 | 38 | Grande Hermine Campground | Campground | ||
| 140 | 87 | Highway maintenance centre | N/A | ||
| 239 | 149 | Crosses the Churchill River | |||
| Rest stop – Bowdoin Canyon Trail (Churchill Falls) | Parking, garbage bin | ||||
| Churchill Falls | 261– 263 | 162– 163 | – Churchill Falls Airport | All services | |
| | 403 | 250 | Highway maintenance centre | N/A | |
| 424 | 263 | Workers camp | N/A | ||
| 465 | 289 | Rest stop | Garbage bin | ||
| 506 | 314 | Rest stop | Garbage bin and picnic table | ||
| 538 | 334 | Route 510 south – Port Hope Simpson | Trans-Labrador Highway follows Route 510 | ||
| Happy Valley-Goose Bay | 543 | 337 | Route 520 – CFB Goose Bay, North West River | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
Route 510
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanc-Sablon (Quebec) | −4 | −2.5 |  R-138 west – Old Fort, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon Airport Avenue Jacques Cartier – Blanc-Sablon ferry terminal | Ferry connection to St. Barbe, NL and Route 430 | |
| | 0 | 0.0 | Quebec border | ||
| L'Anse-au-Clair | 4 | 2.5 | All services | ||
| Forteau | 14 | 8.7 | All services | ||
| L'Anse-au-Loup | 28 | 17 | All services | ||
| West St. Modeste | 42 | 26 | Restaurant and lodging | ||
| Pinware | 47 | 29 | Gas and groceries | ||
| Red Bay | 77 | 48 | All services | ||
| | 109 | 68 | Rest stop | Garbage bin | |
| 118 | 73 | Highway maintenance centre | N/A | ||
| Lodge Bay | 155 | 96 | Groceries; includes rest stop (2 km) | ||
| Mary's Harbour | 162 | 101 | Lodge Bay Road - Mary's Harbour | All services, except gas | |
| | 195 | 121 | Route 513 east – St. Lewis | Gas, groceries and restaurant (17 km) | |
| Port Hope Simpson | 216 | 134 | All services | ||
| | 220 | 140 |  Route 514 north – Charlottetown, Labrador | Gas, groceries and restaurant (30 km) | |
| 317 | 197 | Highway maintenance centre | N/A | ||
| 319 | 198 | Route 516 north – Cartwright | All services (94 km) | ||
| 321 | 199 | (Gravel) | Garbage bin and picnic table | ||
| 447 | 278 | Workers camp | N/A | ||
| 465 | 289 | Highway maintenance centre | N/A | ||
| 471 | 293 | Workers camp | N/A | ||
| 543 | 337 | Rest stop | N/A | ||
| 596 | 370 | Muskrat Falls camp | N/A | ||
| 606 | 377 | Crosses the Churchill River | |||
| Happy Valley-Goose Bay | Route 500 – Labrador City, Churchill Falls, Happy Valley-Goose Bay | Rest stop; all services 5 km to the east; Trans-Labrador Highway follows Route 500 south | |||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
State of the road
- Route 500
| Kilometre | Description | Description[a] |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 18 | Paved | Good |
| 18 to 262 | Paved | Good[b] |
| 262 to 543 | Paved | Good |
- Route 510
| Kilometre | Description* | Description[a] |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 77 | Paved | Good |
| 77 to 216 | Paved | Good |
| 216 to 220 | Paved | Good |
| 220 to 319 | Paved | Good |
| 319 to 445 | Paved | Good |
| 490 to 526 | Paved | Good |
| 526 to 606 | Paved | Good |
- Footnotes
==See also==*Churchill River (Atlantic)
- Division No. 10, Newfoundland and Labrador
- List of Newfoundland and Labrador highways
- Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link
- Newfoundland and Labrador Route 516
- Quebec Route 138
References
- ^ Careen, Evan. "Funding announced for Trans-Labrador Highway | The Telegram". www.thetelegram.com.
- ^ https://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/2020_Roads_Plan.pdf All articles with bare URLs for citations[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Five-Year Provincial Roads Plan#Projects Completed in 2018-19; Department of Transportation and Works" (PDF). www.roads.gov.nl.ca.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cellphone-coverage-highway-community-wifi-emergencies-1.5792284[bare URL]
- ^ "Province sets aside money for look at Labrador north coast road | SaltWire".
- ^ "Road trip to ... Nain? Sky-high cost makes Labrador dream a tough sell | CBC News".
- ^ "The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador invest in a pre-feasibility study for a road into northern Labrador". www.canada.ca. November 8, 2022.
- ^ "The Labrador Record - Infrastructure".
- ^ History of Labrador City Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, LabradorWest.com, Retrieved February 7, 2011
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-mayors-push-for-highway-commitments-1.568825[bare URL]
- ^ http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/resourcecentre/readingroom/conference/conf2003/pdfs/jin.pdf All articles with bare URLs for citations[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Trans Labrador Highway Being Fast-Tracked".
- ^ "Ministerial Statement - Final Tenders Awarded for Phase I of Trans Labrador Highway".
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trans-labrador-highway-woes-detailed-by-ag-1.1189733[bare URL]
- ^ "Tenders Called for More Paving on Phase I of Trans Labrador Highway". Transportation and Works. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/humber-valley-paving-should-ve-paid-penalty-lisa-dempster-says-1.2628419[bare URL]
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-paving-project-won-t-be-on-time-or-budget-1.2673028[bare URL]
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/smooth-driving-on-trans-labrador-highway-from-hvgb-to-lab-west-1.3133338#:~:text=After%20its%20fair%20share%20of%20controversy%20and%20flat,scheduled%20to%20be%20complete%20in%20August%202014.%20%28CBC%29[bare URL]
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/paving-of-trans-labrador-highway-will-remain-unfinished-until-2015-1.2814675[bare URL]
- ^ "Ministerial Statement - Early tenders for projects funded under Labrador Transportation Initiative Fund".
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/access-to-trans-labrador-highway-has-been-double-edged-sword-cartwright-mayor-1.3118416[bare URL]
- ^ "Government announces construction of Trans Labrador Highway".
- ^ "Ministerial Statement - Labrador Transportation Initiative Fund".
- ^ "Major contracts awarded for next phase of Red Bay to Cartwright Highway".
- ^ "The Economy - Construction".
- ^ https://www.canlii.org/en/nl/laws/regu/nlr-39-99/latest/nlr-39-99.html[bare URL]
- ^ "Ministerial Statement - Trans Labrador Highway Phase III Now Open � Connecting Labrador West, Through Lake Melville, to Southern Labrador".
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trans-labrador-highway-now-connected-1.776173[bare URL]
- ^ "Google Maps".
- ^ "Provincial Government Preparing for Road Construction Season". 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador investing over $50 million in support of 26 public infrastructure projects across the province".
- ^ "Trans-Labrador Highway paving complete". 5 July 2022.
- ^ "Final stretch of roadwork clews up to complete 25-year Trans-Labrador Highway project | SaltWire".
- ^ "Labrador 2003 - Page 5". tlhwy.com.
- ^ "Canada's vanishing villages along the Lower North Shore".
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/route-138-proposal-labrador-straits-1.5116468[bare URL]
- ^ "Delegation heads to Ottawa to seek funds to extend Route 138 in eastern Quebec".
- ^ "Canada and Quebec Support Development of the Highway System in the Basse-Côte-Nord Region/East of Nitassinan". 14 December 2020.
External links
