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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