Duchesnay Creek Bridge
Originally constructed in 1937, the Duchesnay Creek Bridge connects the City of North Bay and the Nipissing First Nation. In 2021, it was replaced with a one-of-a-kind structure, built using laminated, high-quality Douglas Fir girders.
Built through a limited partnership of Nipissing First Nation and Miller Paving, the $17 million project provided economic and training opportunities for the community, embraced the enhanced use of timber, and respected the bridge’s historical origins.
Summary
Client
Ministry of TransportationSector
CivilMarket
Bridge Construction/ TransportationYear Completed
2021Cost
$17.1 million
Project highlights
- The work was completed in 2021 and spanned 23 months.
- The project involved both pre-cast (fabricated in the Miller Northern Precast Facility) as well as cast-in-place elements, and close to 30,000 mt of aggregates.
- The 93-metre-long (305-foot) and 12-metre-wide (39-foot) bridge consists of three spans and 12, 1,710-mm deep and 315-mm wide glue-laminated girders. Other than the girders and arches, the rest of the bridge was built with reinforced concrete — with some steel piling for the piers.
- The project also included the pavement of the one kilometre of 17B owned by the province and the removal of an abandoned CPR railway bridge.
This high-visibility project also helped promote the use of mass timber in highway bridges across Canada. By building with wood, this project will result in a total carbon benefit of 991 metric tonnes of CO2, which is equivalent to taking over 190 cars off the road for a full year.
FIRST NATION PARTNERSHIPS & THE PAR PROGRAM
The Miller Group is part of the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, which is provided by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).
The PAR program consists of two phases with each phase requiring action to be taken in various areas of the business.
Phase 1 — the Commitment Phase is a 3‑year path
Phase 2 — the Certified Phase takes approximately two years to complete
Miller is currently in the Commitment Phase, where we will implement processes in four performance areas that are the core components to successful positive business relations with Aboriginal communities: Leadership Actions, Employment, Business Development and Community Relationships.
In our first year of participation in the program, The Miller Group developed an Indigenous Relations Policy, a CEO Statement on Indigenous lands and cultural awareness, formed committees in collaboration with the leadership team, and included the elements of the PAR program at all levels of the company. Over 150 leaders completed Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training that presented a history of aboriginal peoples pre-contact with Europeans, their relationships with Canadians, the impact of Indian Residential schools and most importantly, the process of reconciliation.
The Miller Group has a long history of working in collaboration with First Nation communities, fostering positive relationships in the communities where they live, in particular on ancestral territories.
The aim of our involvement in the PAR program is to be recognized by all Miller Group stakeholders (employees, customers, governments, suppliers, and neighbours), as a company that cares about and is committed to reconciliation with our Indigenous communities.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
We succeed because we respect our people and invest in their development and well-being.
We’re always on the lookout for smart people with the drive to take on challenges, think about what our customers need in new and innovative ways, and deliver creative solutions.
