Route 1 Gateway Project

A map showing Route 1 stretching from the Canada/US border to the Trans-Canada Highway. Image courtesy of Sémhur.

Groundbreaking for the construction of Route 1 Gateway occurred in July 2010. Image courtesy of Government of New Brunswick.

Dexter Developer General Partnership signed a $580m agreement with the provincial government for the 55km project in April 2010. Image courtesy of Government of New Brunswick.

Route 1 Gateway project includes four new bridges.

Rock-socketed piles, 8m to 66m long, were used for the bridges on the Route 1.

Route 1 Gateway is a public-private partnership transportation project that involved the construction of a 55km long four-lane highway between Waweig and Lepreau, with major improvements along the Route 1.

Extending from the Canada/US border to the Trans-Canada Highway, Route 1 serves as a vital transportation corridor for travel and trade between Atlantic Canada and the Eastern United States. It provides the most direct connection to a new border crossing in the Calais/St. Stephen area and is the busiest international land border crossing of Atlantic Canada.

The Route 1 Gateway project bolsters continued economic growth by contributing to a sustainable multimodal transportation system in New Brunswick. It also provides enhanced connections to most of the deep sea ports, international airports and rail networks in the region.

The project officially opened on 25 October 2012, around nine months ahead of schedule.

Route 1 Gateway project details

Route 1 Gateway project was purposed to upgrade the corridor carrying traffic from New Brunswick and Calais/St. Stephen international border to the Trans-Canada Highway in River Glade. It included the construction of 55km of new four-lane divided highway, selected upgrades to improve the existing segments of Route 1 in New Brunswick and installation of wildlife fencing.

The project improved traffic flow on this busy highway and made Route 1 safer and more efficient to commuters. The project involved the construction of secondary two-lane roads, interchanges, wildlife crossings, stream crossing culverts and bridges.

Lochner MMM was selected as the lead designer of the project. Transfield Dexter Gateway Services was responsible for the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of 240km highway, including the new 55km section until 2040.

Construction of Route 1 Gateway

Dexter Construction was responsible for the construction of Route 1 Gateway. Preconstruction work began in July 2010 with clearing of trees, while reconfiguration of the Route 1/Route 111 Interchange began in autumn 2010.

Other improvements included the installation of new guide rails on a large number of bridges and overpasses along the Route 1 Gateway. The majority of the construction work was performed at the crossings on Digdeguash River, Magaguadavic River, Letang River, Pocologan River, New River and Lepreau River on Route 1. 104 linear kilometres of new wildlife fencing was installed under the project. Each segment has been provided with fencing after completion of paving.

The project also included the realignment of the Route 1/Route 111 Interchange in Rothesay and creation of additional lanes for the Route 111 overpass. Girders were installed on the Route 111 overpass in May 2012. The construction work on the Rothesay Avenue overpass at Exit 129 and the Riverview Drive overpass near the Harbour Bridge was completed by mid 2012.

A new 17.5km-long section between Waweig and Bethel of the Route 1 Gateway became operational in July 2012. The 9km stretch of the new highway between Bethel and St. George was opened in August 2012.

Bridge construction along the Route 1

Four new bridges were built under the Route 1 Gateway Project. BAUER Foundations Canada was contracted to provide bored piles for the bridges.

The bridges are supported by piles with a permanent casing of 2,000mm diameter. The rock-socketed piles used for the bridges were 8m to 66m long. The piling work was conducted with BG40 from backfilled platform as well as supporting towers.

Finance of Route 1

In April 2010, the provincial government signed a $580m public-private partnership with Dexter Developer General Partnership for the construction of the 55km four-lane highway on Route 1.

The project was jointly funded by the government of New Brunswick and federal government. The provincial government committed $370m, while the federal government granted $210m through several federal-provincial highway agreements.