PROJECT

BC Hydro – Site C Dam 

Howe Pit & P6 Access Aggregate Clearing Work

Project Details

CLIENT

BC Hydro

PRIME CONTRACTOR

Halfway River Frost LP

LOCATION

Site C – Fort St. John, BC

CONTRACT

Site C – Aggregate Clearing Work (Howe Pit + P6 Access) 

DURATION

2022 – 2023 

Key Project Highlights

20,029 M³

Drainage Blanket

420,000+ M³

Howe Pit Excavation

9,100 M²

HDPE Pond Liner Installed

31,500+ M²

Geotextile Installed

2 × 36 M

Bridge Installations

Project Overview

Halfway River Frost LP delivered major civil construction and site development works supporting BC Hydro’s Site C project at Howe Pit and the P6 access corridor near Fort St. John, British Columbia. 

Acting as Prime Contractor, HRFL completed large-scale excavation, clearing and stripping, drainage infrastructure, sediment pond construction, aggregate placement, road development, environmental management, and the supply and installation of two 36-metre temporary bridges.

The project included a diverse range of civil construction, access development, water-management, and environmental work across Howe Pit and the P6 corridor. 

Howe Pit Development 

  • Vegetation clearing and grubbing 
  • Archaeological stripping 
  • Merchantable timber processing and delivery 
  • Overburden stripping and stockpiling 
  • Large-scale excavation and grading 
  • Care-of-water infrastructure 
  • Sediment pond construction 
  • Drainage systems 
  • Site reclamation and revegetation 

P6 Access Development 

  • Clearing, grubbing, and stripping 
  • Roadway and drainage excavation 
  • Embankment construction 
  • Aggregate placement 
  • Riprap supply, haul, and placement 
  • Roadside barriers and signage 
  • Two temporary bridge installations 
  • Access development and stabilization 

The Howe Pit scope included extensive site construction and drainage excavation, with more than 420,000 m³ of material excavated for on-site use. 

Drainage and water-management infrastructure included 31,513 m² of non-woven geotextile, approximately 20,029 m³ of granular drainage blanket, riprap placement, HDPE outlet piping, concrete manhole infrastructure, silt curtains, and construction of a sediment pond and discharge system. 

The sediment pond incorporated 9,100 m² of geomembrane, approximately 2,800 m³ of protective sand cover, and associated outlet and drainage infrastructure.

HRFL constructed the P6 access corridor, completing roadway and drainage excavation, embankment construction, aggregate placement, erosion protection, barriers, and associated access infrastructure. 

The project included the supply and installation of two 36-metre temporary channel-crossing bridges, providing critical access through the P6 work area. Bridge-related work included installation, rental and maintenance periods, roadside barriers, parapet transitions, signage, and eventual deactivation requirements.

  • 53,838 m³ – P6 mechanical stripping 
  • 25,530 m³ – P6 roadway and drainage excavation 
  • 20,029 m³ – granular drainage blanket 
  • 2,139.5 m³ – 100 kg class riprap supplied, hauled, and placed 
  • 1,523.65 m³ – 25 kg class riprap supplied, hauled, and placed 
  • 14,787 m³ – Howe Pit mechanical stripping 

As Prime Contractor, Halfway River Frost LP managed the full delivery of the project, including safety, environmental compliance, quality requirements, subcontractor coordination, workforce reporting, construction documentation, and project closeout. 

The project also provided opportunities for local and Indigenous participation throughout execution, while demonstrating HRFL’s ability to manage a complex, multidisciplinary civil construction scope within BC Hydro’s Site C development. 

The Site C – Howe Pit & P6 Access project demonstrates Frost Group’s ability to deliver large-scale, multidisciplinary civil construction projects from clearing and site preparation through earthworks, drainage, water management, bridge installation, environmental management, and final reclamation. 

The scale and diversity of the work at Howe Pit and P6 highlight Halfway River Frost LP’s ability to manage complex civil scopes, significant quantities, specialized infrastructure, and environmental requirements within one of British Columbia’s largest infrastructure developments.