Route 389 Improvement Program

Rank 2021

90 Industry Sector: Transportation

Project Type: Highway

Project Value: $468 million

Funding Source: Public

Federal Funding: $183 million (New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—National and Regional Projects)

Provincial Funding: $285 million ($190 million coming from the Société du Plan Nord, and $95 million from the Quebec Department of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Electrification)

Province: Quebec

City / Region: Baie-Comeau, Quebec to the Labrador border

Estimated End Date of Substantial Completion: 2028

This 570-kilometre long highway joins the city of Baie-Comeau in Quebec with the Newfoundland-Labrador border. The improvement program is key in the development of Plan Nord, as it will improve access to lands north of the 49th parallel.

The program is divided into five individual projects:
Project A: from Fire Lake to Fermont
Project B: Baie-Comeau to Manic-2
Project C: winding sector north of Manic-Five
Project D: Manic-2 north of Manic-3
Project E: Manic-3 North to Manic-5

In April, the start of construction on Project C was announced. Project C represents a stretch of roadway between kilometre markers 240 and 254 about 28 kilometres north of the Daniel-Johnson Dam (Manic-5). This portion represents an approximate investment of $27 million and will take two years to complete.

Project Owner: Government of Quebec

Engineer: SNC-Lavalin; Tetra Tech

Contractor: Dexter Quebec (km 240-254)

Project/Construction Manager: AECOM

Other Key Players: BPR/AXOR Experts-Conseils Consortium (planning and specifications north of Manic-5); Roche-TDA Consortium, in conjunction with Inspec-Sol (GHD) (environmental assessment); WSP (route design work); Englobe

2020 Rank: 92

2019 Rank: 90

2018 Rank: 88

KEY PLAYERS

Platinum Elite (20+ Projects)

Platinum (10-19 Projects)

Gold (6-9 Projects)

Silver (3-5 Projects)

Bronze (1-2 Projects)