Trans-Labrador Highway
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. It is the primary public road in Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
and one of the few in that part of the province.
The original western/central portion of the TLH is designated as Route 500 and measures 549 km (341.1 mi) divided as follows:
- QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
- LabradorNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
boundary to Labrador CityLabrador City, Newfoundland and LabradorLabrador City is a town in western Labrador , near the Quebec border. As of 2006, its population is 7,240...
/WabushWabush, Newfoundland and LabradorWabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations for over three decades ....
(23 km, asphalt surface) - Labrador CityLabrador City, Newfoundland and LabradorLabrador City is a town in western Labrador , near the Quebec border. As of 2006, its population is 7,240...
/WabushWabush, Newfoundland and LabradorWabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations for over three decades ....
to Churchill Falls (238 km, asphalt and gravel surface) - Churchill Falls to Happy Valley – Goose Bay (288 km, asphalt and gravel surface)
Heading Southeast is Route 510, the north portion of the TLH that has been designated Labrador Coastal Drive:
- Lake MelvilleLake MelvilleLake Melville is a saltwater tidal extension of Hamilton Inlet on the Labrador coast in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Comprising 3,069 square kilometres, and stretching 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, it forms part of the largest estuary in the province,...
/Hamilton InletHamilton InletHamilton Inlet is a fjord-like inlet on the Labrador coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Together with Lake Melville, it forms the province's largest estuary, extending over 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and primarily draining the Churchill River and...
/Happy Valley – Goose Bay, to connect Cartwright Junction (87 km south of Cartwright) (250 km, gravel surface).
The remaining portion of Labrador Coastal Drive runs 409 km, divided as follows (Route 530):
- CartwrightCartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador-Further reading:*Buckle, Francis Labrador Diary, 1915-1925: the Gordon journals. Cartwright: Anglican Parish ISBN 0-9733448-0-6 -External links:*...
to Port Hope SimpsonPort Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and LabradorPort Hope Simpson, population 529 , is a town located on the southeastern Labrador coast, 215 kilometres from the Quebec/Labrador border. It had its beginnings in the 1930s as a company town....
(179 km, gravel and asphalt surface, of which 87 km is paved). - Port Hope SimpsonPort Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and LabradorPort Hope Simpson, population 529 , is a town located on the southeastern Labrador coast, 215 kilometres from the Quebec/Labrador border. It had its beginnings in the 1930s as a company town....
to Mary's HarbourMary's Harbour, Newfoundland and LabradorMary's Harbour is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 417 in the Canada 2006 Census. It is serviced by Mary's Harbour Airport.-Notable residents:...
(58 km, gravel surface). - Mary's HarbourMary's Harbour, Newfoundland and LabradorMary's Harbour is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 417 in the Canada 2006 Census. It is serviced by Mary's Harbour Airport.-Notable residents:...
to Lodge BayLodge Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorLodge Bay is a permanent community located along the southeast coast of Labrador, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the...
(12 km, gravel surface). - Lodge BayLodge Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorLodge Bay is a permanent community located along the southeast coast of Labrador, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the...
to Red BayRed Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorRed Bay is a fishing village and former site of several Basque whaling stations on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling area. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons...
(74 km, gravel surface). - Red BayRed Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorRed Bay is a fishing village and former site of several Basque whaling stations on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling area. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons...
to QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
- LabradorNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
boundary via Blanc Sablon (86 km, asphalt surface).
For almost its entire length, the TLH runs through dense wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
, with absolutely no roadside services between communities. Travellers attempting to drive the TLH in winter months should plan accordingly as weather and road conditions can be extremely unpredictable.
The TLH/Labrador Coastal Drive connects with Quebec Route 389
Quebec route 389
Quebec's Route 389 connects Route 138 adjacent to Baie-Comeau with the Newfoundland and Labrador border, connecting with the Trans-Labrador Highway to Wabush and Labrador City, and beyond to Goose Bay...
, which runs 570 km through wilderness north from Baie-Comeau to the Quebec - Labrador boundary.
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 officially completed in 1992; however 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 summer 1999, $60 million (CAD) was allocated to upgrade the highway as part of the Labrador Transportation Initiative.The Phase I section of the TLH began undergoing paving operations in 2009; as of August 2010, a stretch of approximately 80 km leading east from Labrador West had been paved, as well as two shorter sections between Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The entire Phase I section of the TLH is expected to be paved by 2014.
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. The impetus for this project was the federal government's desire to cut costs and remove itself from subsidizing coastal ferryFerry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service to Labrador outports
Newfoundland outport
An outport is the term given for a small isolated coastal community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally the term was just used for coastal communities on the island of Newfoundland but the term has also been adopted for those on the mainland area of Labrador as...
which was being provided by the federal Crown corporation Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic Inc. is an independent Canadian Crown corporation offering ferry services between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.Marine Atlantic's corporate headquarters are in St...
.
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 $340 million (CAD) for extending Labrador's road network. A key component to this plan was $150 million (CAD) to upgrade coastal Labrador marine services, including a newer high-capacity ferry for the St. Barbe
St. Barbe, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. Barbe is a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located on the northwestern peninsula of the island of Newfoundland.It is connected by a ferry across the Strait of Belle Isle to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec...
-Blanc Sablon service across the Strait of Belle Isle.
Phase II, Red Bay to Cartwright
Phase II of new construction, costing $130 million (CAD), began in 1999 and saw Route 510 extended 323 km over 4 years from its terminus in Red BayRed Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Red Bay is a fishing village and former site of several Basque whaling stations on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling area. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons...
northeast to the port of Cartwright
Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador
-Further reading:*Buckle, Francis Labrador Diary, 1915-1925: the Gordon journals. Cartwright: Anglican Parish ISBN 0-9733448-0-6 -External links:*...
. When this southern portion of the TLH was completed in 2002, the Labrador coastal ferry services were transferred in a controversial move from Lewisporte
Lewisporte, Newfoundland and Labrador
Lewisporte is a town in central Newfoundland Island, Canada, with a population of 3,312. It is situated in a bay close to the mouth of the Exploits River. Lewisporte has an excellent port and related facilities that serve the many communities along Notre Dame Bay. Gander and its international...
on the island of Newfoundland to Cartwright.
The southern TLH runs 409 km, divided as follows:
- QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
- LabradorNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
boundary (Blanc Sablon) to Red BayRed Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorRed Bay is a fishing village and former site of several Basque whaling stations on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling area. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons...
, (86 km, asphalt surface) - Red BayRed Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorRed Bay is a fishing village and former site of several Basque whaling stations on the southern coast of Labrador in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Between 1550 and the early 17th century, Red Bay was a major Basque whaling area. The site is home to three Basque whaling galleons...
to Lodge BayLodge Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorLodge Bay is a permanent community located along the southeast coast of Labrador, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the...
, (74 km, gravel surface) - Lodge BayLodge Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorLodge Bay is a permanent community located along the southeast coast of Labrador, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the...
to Mary's HarbourMary's Harbour, Newfoundland and LabradorMary's Harbour is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 417 in the Canada 2006 Census. It is serviced by Mary's Harbour Airport.-Notable residents:...
, (12 km, gravel surface) - Mary's HarbourMary's Harbour, Newfoundland and LabradorMary's Harbour is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 417 in the Canada 2006 Census. It is serviced by Mary's Harbour Airport.-Notable residents:...
to Port Hope SimpsonPort Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and LabradorPort Hope Simpson, population 529 , is a town located on the southeastern Labrador coast, 215 kilometres from the Quebec/Labrador border. It had its beginnings in the 1930s as a company town....
, (58 km, gravel surface) - Port Hope SimpsonPort Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and LabradorPort Hope Simpson, population 529 , is a town located on the southeastern Labrador coast, 215 kilometres from the Quebec/Labrador border. It had its beginnings in the 1930s as a company town....
to CartwrightCartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador-Further reading:*Buckle, Francis Labrador Diary, 1915-1925: the Gordon journals. Cartwright: Anglican Parish ISBN 0-9733448-0-6 -External links:*...
, (179 km, gravel surface), of which 87 km is, as of 2010, designated as Route 530
The current Phase II section of the southern portion of the TLH between Red Bay and Mary's Harbour is also the location of extreme winter driving conditions where infamous pictures of heavy snow-removal equipment battling snow drifts dozens of metres deep have become famous around the world. The poor winter driving conditions often result in this section of the TLH being impassable for weeks on end. Local residents feel the road should have been built through woodlands; the route in use required rock cuts, and the rock cuts tend to fill up with snow.
Phase III, Cartwright Junction to Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Phase III is a 250 km section of Route 510 built for $130 million (CAD) south of Lake MelvilleLake Melville
Lake Melville is a saltwater tidal extension of Hamilton Inlet on the Labrador coast in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Comprising 3,069 square kilometres, and stretching 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, it forms part of the largest estuary in the province,...
/Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet is a fjord-like inlet on the Labrador coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Together with Lake Melville, it forms the province's largest estuary, extending over 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and primarily draining the Churchill River and...
to connect Cartwright Junction (87 km south of Cartwright) with Happy Valley-Goose Bay, completed sufficiently to open to traffic on 16 December 2009. During 2010, two permanent bridges, road surface work, signage and guardrails will be completed at a cost of $15 million.
Phase II north from Cartwright Junction will be Route 530, and a ferry service currently connects Cartwright with Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which was intended to be removed after the highway is completed, achieved in mid-December 2009. Neither the minister's statement nor releases from the ministry of transportation specify any immediate cessation.
Transportation Minister Tom Hedderson had made the announcement of the impending completion of the highway connection between Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Tuesday, December 08, 2009 in the legislature.
"We indicated that we'd do everything possible to get it done in this time period of 2009," Hedderson said, "and ... we are very, very close in a sense that the crew has indeed connected up both sides." Hedderson said some final work has to be done on that portion of the highway, but he said it would open to the public soon.
Route 530 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 87 km from Cartwright Junction was designated as Route 530.Phase II also included other branch routes:
- Route 513 to St. Lewis
- Route 514 to Charlottetown and Pinsent Arm