Proposed $80bn Canadian coast-to-coast infrastructure gets senate attention

Half a century ago, the idea for a coast-to-coast infrastructure that links the Canadian far north with the rest of the country was first proposed. Today, Canadian engineers still see great value in this project, arguing that it would boost access to resources.

Seeing this “northern corridor” become reality would result in a 4,349-mile-long, three-mile-wide passage stretching from the Northwest Territories down through to southern parts of the nation, according to the Engineering News-Record (ENR). This space would be used for rail tracks, pipelines, utility lines, and roads that provide access to mines which are currently difficult to reach, such as Gahcho Kue, a diamond mine opened a year ago by DeBeers Canada. Considered the world’s largest new diamond mine in 13 years, the site is located 280 kilometers north of Yellowknife and exclusively fly-in, fly-out because there is no road access.

Half a century ago, the idea for a coast-to-coast infrastructure that links the Canadian far north with the rest of the country was first proposed. Today, Canadian engineers still see great value in this project, arguing that it would boost access to resources.

Seeing this “northern corridor” become reality would result in a 4,349-mile-long, three-mile-wide passage stretching from the Northwest Territories down through to southern parts of the nation, according to the Engineering News-Record (ENR). This space would be used for rail tracks, pipelines, utility lines, and roads that provide access to mines which are currently difficult to reach, such as Gahcho Kue, a diamond mine opened a year ago by DeBeers Canada. Considered the world’s largest new diamond mine in 13 years, the site is located 280 kilometers north of Yellowknife and exclusively fly-in, fly-out because there is no road access.