The program received parliamentary approval in June 1958, and DCL swung quickly into action. It used its authority under the Defence Appropriation Act of 1950 to make expenditures from unappropriated monies in the government’ s Consolidated Revenue Fund, in order to advertise for Frobisher bids in July. This was crucial, as it allowed materials to arrive on site and for some construction to start that year.
U. S. Air Force personnel began arriving at Frobisher in June 1960— costs there totalled $ 20.5 million and involved moving some two million cubic yards of rock, along with building a new runway, lighting, an apron for 20 aircraft, and buildings. Churchill, the next most expensive base, cost less than half that, although it too required considerable grading work, including 1.8 million cubic yards of runway fill. It also brought with it the challenge posed by polar bears that roamed the construction site, but tanker alert duty nevertheless began in November 1960.
Construction crews at Cold Lake and Namao, working on runways, taxiways, an apron and support and maintenance facilities, had an easier time, although both locations had a tendency to turn into“ mud holes” when wet. Six tankers arrived at Namao on August 26, 1960, while Cold Lake received its first mission on October 5.
Overall, construction costs came in at $ 2 million under budget. All of the contracts had been finished within the dates required, and SAC described its work with the RCAF as an“ abnormal but, as it proved, highly collaborative effort.” It also acknowledged DCL’ s role— a July 1962 letter stated that“ a great deal of the credit for the accomplishments and economies realized within this program is attributable to the efforts and diligence displayed by your( DCL) staff.”
DEW DROP With all of these military installations in the North came the need for reliable communication links. The tropospheric scatter link between Thule Air Force Base in Greenland and Cape Dyer on Baffin Island was named DEW DROP. Once again, the Canadian government insisted on using a Canadian contractor, and once again, the American government eventually agreed. DCL’ s role was to determine whether or not those submitting bids to the U. S. Corps of Engineers in spring 1957 qualified as Canadian contractors.
TACAN— The Tactical Air Navigation Stations TACAN stations were another U. S. program, this one intended primarily for the use of military air transport flights to various northern installations. Once again, progress was delayed after the 1957 Canadian federal election, with the program not proceeding until May 1, 1959. DCL worked with the U. S. Corps of Engineers, this time calling tenders, awarding contracts and supervising construction.
BMEWS— Ballistic Missile Early Warning System This early-warning system included key stations in Alaska and Greenland, the latter of which had rearward links including a submarine cable from Thule to Cape Dyer and intermediate stations at Cape Dyer, Brevoort Island, Resolution Island, Saglek and Hopedale.
An agreement between Canada and the U. S. was reached in 1958, with DCL once again managing portions of the construction on Canadian soil, including contracting it to Canadian firms. BMEWS Site 1, at Thule, reached initial operating capability in September 1960.
BREAKING NEW GROUND DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA
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