2005-2013

Last updated on May 19, 2013




 

This site is dedicated to all the men and women working on the Niagara Tunnel Project
 

 

 

 

A special THANK YOU is extended to the following companies and persons
 for allowing access to obtain information and photographs contained herein.
 

 STRABAG INC.

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION

and

THE ROBBINS COMPANY
 

Ernst Gschnitzer - Strabag Inc.
Project Manager Niagara Tunnel Project

Erich Kapeller - Strabag Inc. (Ret.)
Senior Construction Engineering Manager Niagara Tunnel Project

Johan Viljoen - Strabag Inc.
Project Health & Safety Manager Niagara Tunnel Project

Christian Berger - Strabag Inc.
General Superintendent Niagara Tunnel Project

Bernhard Mitis - Strabag Inc.
Construction Manager Niagara Tunnel Project

Richard Goertz - Strabag Inc.
Design Manager Niagara Tunnel Project

 

---

---

Alexander Herz
Cogeis S.p.A.
Tunnel Construction Director
Tunnel Department

Richard Everdell
Project Director - Niagara Tunnel Project
Ontario Power Generation

Dean Norton
Public Affairs and Property Management Advisor
Ontario Power Generation
 

 

while the information contained on this site is believed to be accurate
 it has not been reviewed or approved by the above named companies

 

 

 

VOICES from the Niagara Tunnel - A Living History
(click link above)
 

As the Niagara Tunnel Project comes to a close, NOW is the time to tell your tunnel stories

 

You must identify yourself for historical record however you may request to have your "NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST" when your submission is posted. Anonymous submissions will be accepted however may not be published. Please remember that future generations including your family and relatives will be reading your submissions.

 

This is YOUR history of the Niagara Tunnel Project. Please participate. All submissions welcome.

 

Send your submissions via EMAIL to
 niagaratunnel@gmail.com

 

OR
 

niagarahistory@gmail.com
 

 

To Strabag and all the workers; thank you for sharing part of this historic project with me.

                                                                                                                    ...Rick

 

 

---

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRESS TO DATE

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 14th 2013 - 

Ontario Power Generation will be hosting a used equipment auction at the Outlet office site on June 12th.

The final flow test will take place in June 2013.

The plan to re-erect the entire cutter-head or a portion thereof from the TBM "Big Becky" in the small park under construction at the Intake site as a lasting memorial to the Niagara Tunnel Tunnel Project highlighting the engineering feats of many contributing companies and the workers has been removed from the original plans. Unless Strabag, OPG, the city of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parks Commission come to an agreement in the 11th hour, it would appear that the iconic cutter-head is destined to be returned to the Robbins Company for scrap. The largest single construction project in Niagara of this generation and any related tourism opportunities are destined to fade into the memories of those members that have planned, engineered and toiled to build the Niagara Tunnel. Apparently talk is cheap.

Strabag will have completed the Intake site on or before August 31st 2013. At that time the Intake area will be returned to OPG and the Niagara Parks.

The Health & Safety Components of Strabag, Hatch Mott-MacDonald and OPG accomplished a remarkable and admirable safety record during the construction of this massive tunnel. There were NO fatalities and few serious injuries recorded.  

 

 

 

 

April 30th 2013 - 

The final flow test scheduled for March 30th was cancelled due to significant ice in the upper Niagara River at the Intake. The final test will now take place in June 2013.

The Niagara Tunnel contains 1,300,000 m³ of water or 1,300,000,000 litres.

At a flow rate of 500 m³ of water per second it would take approximately 45 minutes to traverse the entire length of the 10.2 kilometer tunnel.

Restorations at the Intake and Outlet work sites continue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 27th 2013 - 

Tunnel flow rate measurements continue to be conducted. Rates of 480 cm/s and 520 cm/s have been realized that meets and/or exceeds contract expectations. The final test for contract purposes will be conducted on Saturday March 30th 2013.

 

 

March 21st 2013 - 

The Ontario Government and Ontario Power Generation  "OFFICIALLY DECLARED THE NIAGARA TUNNEL IN SERVICE" to mark the end of the Niagara Tunnel construction.

 

 

 

 

March 19th 2013 - 

The Ontario Government and Ontario Power Generation will "OFFICIALLY DECLARE THE NIAGARA TUNNEL IN SERVICE" to mark the end of the Niagara Tunnel construction at a media event to be held on Thursday March 21st 2013.

This announcement will be made in the presence of Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Energy, Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Environment, Kim Craitor, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls, with OPG officials and other dignitaries at the Ontario Power Generation Visitors' Centre On Thursday March 21st 2013.  This ceremony/media event will include a tour of the Sir Adam Beck #2 and an optional tour of the outlet channel.

 

March 18th 2013 - 

Strabag is cleaning up outlet channel site. When done, the actual site restoration (final grading, create the ditches etc for water run off, top soil, grass etc.) will begin.

Dufferin Concrete has started clean up work at the rock trap area. At the Intake site they are removing the sludge from that temporary pond.

 

 

March 7th 2013 -  WATER FLOWING THROUGH TUNNEL

The stop-log gates have been removed from the intake channel and the outlet gate has been opened today to allow the flow of water through the new Niagara Tunnel on a permanent basis. The gates at both ends will now remain open. The intake stop-logs have been transferred to the outlet site for indoor storage until they are ever needed again in the future. Water flow measurements will be conducted throughout the following weeks. Ontario Power Generation is now utilizing the additional water from this new tunnel for power generation at the Sir Adam Beck Hydro-Electric Power Generation Stations Group. This marks one of the last significant milestones in the construction of the Niagara Tunnel Project. Surface work at both the intake and outlet sites continue.

A flow rate of 420 cm/sec was achieved. Further measurements to follow.

 

 

March 6th 2013 -

The outlet gate of the flooded tunnel was opened for the first time beginning at 9 a.m. allowing water to flow freely from intake to outlet. This two hour opening process allowed water flow to essentially flush any construction dirt and debris from within the tunnel. The tunnel was allowed to flow freely for approximately 30 minutes before the outlet gate began the slow process to be lowered and closed again (3 hours). In order to keep the water level in the surge tank, the final two meters of the gate are lowered at a rate of 1 inch per minute.

The 150 ton gate is lifted/lowered in guides by steel cables and guide wheels. It is propelled by 10 horsepower electric motor located in the gate hoist shelter.

Once the outlet gate was closed, the stop-logs at the intake channel were re-installed to block the flow of water inside the entire tunnel. This is done to test the continuity and ability of both gates to stop the water.

In the coming days both the intake stop-logs and outlet gate will be reopened to allow the water to flow once again. At this time the flow rate of the tunnel will be measured by an array of ultrasonic sensors attached to the circumference of the tunnel located in the 4th bay (approx. 45 meters inside of the tunnel).

A flow rate of 360 cm/sec was achieved.

 

 

 

 

    

    

         

Flushing the Niagara Tunnel  - March 6th 2013 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* all depth (elevation) measurements are based upon a base of "above sea level" 

 

 

 

 

 

Requires a Java Enabled Browser.

 

 

 

 

 

for more pictures please visit our Niagara Tunnel Picture Gallery

 

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

INDEX

 

 

Progress to Date/Current Location

Niagara Tunnel Breakthrough Ceremony

Introduction

Stakeholders

                                                             Ontario Power Generation

                                       Strabag SE

                                                                         Hatch Mott MacDonald Company
 

 

Associate Companies

                                                 Robbins Company

                                                                               Castonguay Blasting Company Limited

                                                                                                         McNally International Construction & Marine Company

                                                     Dufferin Construction

                                                                                  Morrison Hershfield Consulting Engineers

                                                          ILF Consulting Engineers

                                                                           Bermingham Construction Company

 

TBM Record Best

Strabag Organization Chart - Niagara Tunnel Project

Niagara Tunnel Project - Technical Facts

Picture Gallery

Niagara Tunnel Project - Vehicles, Carriers & Bridges

Niagara Tunnel Project - Chronology of Events

Voices From The Niagara Tunnel - A Living History

 

Geology Charts

                                         Rock of Ages Chart

                                                   Silurian Era Rock Chart

                                                                 Strata of the Niagara Gorge Chart

Niagara River & Water Diversion

Need For The New Niagara Tunnel

Ontario Power Generation - Quarterly Reports

Related Links

 

 

 

 

The TBM at 10,136 meters on April 3rd 2011 - 1.5 meters from breakout 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

 

  
The St. Barbara Ceremony held inside the Niagara Tunnel on December 4th 2008
The red arrow points to the size of an average man in stark comparison to the immense size of the tunnel
 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

On Friday June 25th 2004, the Ontario Government announced that Ontario Power Generation has been given approval to proceed with the 3rd tunnel under the City of Niagara Falls.

The first two tunnels were built during the 1950's.

On Thursday August 18th 2005, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced the selection of the Austrian - STRABAG AG COMPANY to build the $600 million dollar hydro tunnel. The 10.4 kilometer (6.4 miles) water tunnel will run under the City of Niagara Falls from the upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam Beck Power Stations at Queenston at a maximum depth of 140 meters (459 feet). This third tunnel project is expected to be one of the largest tunnels built in North America.

The new tunnel will parallel the existing water tunnels but at a lower depth. The existing tunnels reach a maximum depth of 100 meters (328 feet).

On Wednesday September 14th 2005, the official ground breaking ceremonies were held to announce the beginning of this massive project.

Currently, Sir Adam Beck Power Group generates 2,080 megawatts. Approximately 1,800 cubic meters (63,566 cubic feet) of water per second from the existing twin tunnels and the hydro canal supply the Sir Adam Beck Stations. The new tunnel will divert an additional 500 cubic meters (17,657 cubic feet) of water per second.  

Strabag AG will also undertake remedial work on the former Ontario Power Station, the Ontario Power Station Water Intake Gate House and the former Toronto Power Station increasing the contract cost to $985 million dollars.

The project has now been projected to be completed in 2012 or 2013 from the initial date of 2009.

The course and depth for the new Niagara Tunnel had been predetermined many years ago as a result of the location of the original hydro canal (1921), the subsequent twin water tunnels (1955), the ancient buried St. David's Gorge and urban development.

The hydro canal was initially designed to consist of two canals leading from the Welland River to the Chippawa-Queenston Power Station (Sir Adam Beck #1). The course of the canal dissected the city in an area that was predominately rural at that time. After the first canal was built, the second canal plan was abandoned. The excess hydro land was returned to the city for urban development.

In the early 1950's, twin 14 meter (45 feet) diameter water tunnels were built under the city at a maximum depth of 330 feet nearest Chippawa and slowly rising before surfacing and terminating near Whirlpool Road into an open cut canal. Engineers determined that the existing tunnels and canal would have been too hazardous and expensive to continue as they passed underground through the glacial silt of the buried St. David's Gorge. In both instances the water is channeled on the surface as it crosses the buried gorge through concrete lined trapezoidal sections.

The corridor of land utilized for the location of the twin tunnels was previously owned by the hydro company and/or upon city land that was for the most part undeveloped.

Since the 1950's, the urban development of the City of Niagara Falls has grown exponentially so that today, little if any excess land was available.

History, geology and urban development has dictated the current location of the new Niagara Tunnel with little flexibility. The new tunnel would begin in an area of land near the forebay' of the Sir Adam Beck Power Generating Stations.

The Niagara Tunnel had no alternative than to bore steeply underground in order to tunnel underneath the ancient buried St. David's Gorge and to maintain a safe separation from the existing tunnels . The current path of the Niagara Tunnel is (for the most part) to follow the path of the existing twin tunnels.

The Niagara Tunnel is 14.4 meters (47.2 feet) in diameter at a maximum depth of 140 meters (459.3 feet). Both are unprecedented in size and depth in Niagara. The rock strata at the current depth of the tunnel boring machine is predominately Queenston Shale (mudstone). The reddish-purplish shale is fractured and has resulted in many roof-line rock falls slowing the boring operation. Although test boring samples were conducted in preparation for this project, none uncovered the vertical fracturing in the rock strata that the tunneling crews are currently experiencing.
 

A comparison of differences in size between the Niagara Tunnel Project and the Sir Adam Beck #2 Project
 

The TBM at 9986 meters
 

 

 

 

STAKEHOLDERS

ONTARIO POWER GENERATION

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is owned by the Province of Ontario and is an electricity generation company whose principle business is the generation and sale of electricity in the Province of Ontario. OPG has approximately 11,300 employees. Power generation is produced by nuclear, hydroelectric, fossil and wind. Ontario Power Generation  produced 109 TWh or 70% of Ontario's electricity in 2005.

 

 

OPG Twittering from Niagara Tunnel

 

 

 

STRABAG SE COMPANY

 

Strabag SE is one of Europe’s leading construction groups. With some 76,900 employees, Strabag generated a construction output volume of € 14.3 billion in the 2011 financial year.

Strabag SE is an Internationally world renown engineering and construction company based in Vienna, Austria. having extensive experience in road construction, structural engineering and other building fields including tunneling, civil engineering, bridge construction, power plant construction, rail construction, environmental technology and specialized underground engineering and project development. From core markets of Austria and Germany, Strabag SE is present via their numerous subsidiaries in the countries of Eastern and South-East Europe, in selected markets in Western Europe and in individual cases on other continents.

Strabag SE was established by Anton Lerchbaumer is 1835. The current CEO is Peter Haselsteiner. 

This company generated more than 80% of their output volume in markets in which they hold one of the top three market positions, such as Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania and Switzerland. The company offers services under several brands, including STRABAG, Heilit+Woerner, Möbius and Züblin. The services span all areas of the construction industry and cover the entire construction value chain. Their vision is to become Europe’s leading pure construction company.


 

 

 

 

HATCH MOTT MACDONALD ENGINEERING COMPANY

Hatch Mott MacDonald is an international award winning full service consulting engineering firm offering public and private clients multi-disciplined expertise and comprehensive capabilities in planning, environmental assessments, studies and analysis, design, procurement, construction engineering and inspection, project, program and construction management and facility maintenance and operations.

With more than a century of experience,  Hatch Mott MacDonald has approximately 10,000 employees world-wide providing the absolute best and highest engineering technical service.

Hatch Mott MacDonald is a North American company which has earned a reputation for technical excellence, innovation and client responsiveness on some of the most prominent and challenging projects. They have an extensive record of major accomplishments in the fields of transportation, tunnels, water conveyance, wastewater/CSO, environmental, gas pipelines, buildings and utilities.

Hatch Mott MacDonald's tunneling expertise began over 100 years ago, in the development of the London underground road and rail systems, and Toronto's subway system more than 50 years ago.

Peter Wickens is the current President and CEO.

Hatch Mott MacDonald and Hatch Acres are acting as Owner’s Representatives to Ontario Power Generation on the Niagara Tunnel Project. 

Through six decades, Hatch (which joined with long-time partner Mott MacDonald to create the infrastructure unit Hatch Mott MacDonald in North America in 1996) became prominent in North American transportation when it provided tunneling skills, know-how, design and management to several Toronto Transit Commission subway extensions, the CP Rail tunnel joining Windsor and Detroit, the Schreyer-Award winning CN Rail tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron, tunnels for the Los Angeles Red Line subway, tunnels for BART in the San Francisco Bay area, tunnel-jacking for the massive Boston Central Artery project, and the recent Schreyer-winner dual-purpose (rail and auto traffic) Whittier Tunnel in Alaska.

 

 

View NTP TBM Locations in a larger map

Current Location of Niagara Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)

Map Courtesy of Maria Mammoliti, B.A.Sc.
Geologist
former Niagara Tunnel Project
Geotechnical Engineering Intern, Project Delivery Group

 

 

 

 

---

---

 

 

 

 

ASSOCIATE COMPANIES

 

 

 

THE ROBBINS COMPANY

With more than 50 years on innovation and experience, The Robbins Company is the world's foremost developer and manufacturer of advanced underground construction machinery.

In 1952 James S. Robbins, the founder of the Robbins Company, built the first successful hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM).  That success provided the foundation of innovation upon which Robbins continues to build. 

Over the past 50 years Robbins has been involved in hundreds of tunnel boring projects around the world.  Robbins is an international organization with four primary manufacturing facilities, seven international sales & service locations, and representatives worldwide. 

The largest hard rock TBM in the world (14.4 m in diameter) will be designed and manufactured by The Robbins Company.   Austria based Strabag AG, the contractor for the Niagara Tunnel Project, awarded the TBM order to The Robbins Company based in Solon, Ohio USA.  The Robbins tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be an open, hard rock, main beam TBM that utilizes the proven Robbins floating gripper design.  The TBM will be manufactured with a state-of-the-art ground support system.

 

 

CASTONGUAY BLASTING COMPANY

Castonguay G.P of Sudbury, Canada has a  reputation, as a leader in the highly specialized field on drilling and blasting, has been strengthened by applying an innovative approach to each new project to ensure that work is done according to their clients' needs and to their full satisfaction. Strict procedures accompany the many stages of a project, such as visiting the site, surveying the area, drilling holes, installing seismographs, blasting designated areas, etc.

Castonguay G.P.'s expertise extends into sectors such as construction, quarries and mines. It is crucial to work with top-quality equipment, adapted to each work site as it allows them to work easily in risk zones and carry out high-precision work.

Each core employee plays an important role in the prosperity of the company by contributing their knowledge in research and development, manufacturing of specialized equipment and analyzing methods and planning procedures. They respond to public and private organizations for all drilling and blasting needs, and provide specialized training and conference presentations for businesses seeking knowledge in the field.

The team effort of Castonguay G.P. emphazing safety on the work site, was rewarded in year 2000 with the "Safety Award - Specialized Contractor, Over 20 000 Hours" granted by the Pipeline Contractors Association of Canada.

This award underscores the exceptional performance of a Canadian business in the area of safety and its effect on workplace accident rates.

Castonguay Blasting Company was awarded the contract to conduct blast design reviews, surface blasting, inspections and vibration monitoring of the Niagara Tunnel Project.
 

 

 

McNALLY INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION & MARINE COMPANY

McNally International Incorporated and its group of companies was established in 1949, under the name S. McNally & Sons Limited.

Post-war house building was the main activity in the early years but soon changed to heavy civil engineering projects. Since the 1950's, the name "McNally" has become synonymous with difficult and demanding projects.

Throughout the years, McNally International has completed projects including roads, bridges, sewage treatment plants, sewers, and water mains. They are best known for their experience in underground tunnel work.

Tunnel construction is still one of the most exacting sectors of the construction industry. McNally International is recognized as Canada's leading Tunnel Contractor. They built tunnels for water, sewer, steam, subways, power transmission, traffic and pedestrians.

In the 1980's we started McNally Tunneling Corporation expanded operations in the United States. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, McNally Tunneling has completed projects in Birmingham, Cleveland, Houston, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis and Columbus.

Construction like many industries has its own cycle of activities. One sector most acutely affected has been marine construction. In the 90's McNally purchased the marine assets of the Beaver Construction Group of Montreal, and started a new company called Beaver Marine Limited based in Nova Scotia. After a couple of years, McNally acquired the marine assets of Canadian Dredge and Dock, Pitts Engineering and MacNamara Marine all major players in the Construction industry in their day. 

Under the new McNally International flag these assets help make up one of the best equipped and manned construction fleets anywhere in Canada.

Together with Beaver, McNally Construction Group is capable of completing marine construction or dredging projects anywhere in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River or Eastern Canada.

McNally International Incorporated with its team of experienced and dedicated professionals is ready for the future.

McNally International - Marine Division is employed at the Niagara Tunnel Project in the preparation and construction of the Upper Niagara River intake.

 

 

 

DUFFERIN CONSTRUCTION

Founded in 1912, Dufferin Construction is part of the St. Lawrence Cement Group, the largest cement producer in eastern Canada. Dufferin is a leader in its own right - Canada's biggest concrete paving company and one of Canada's largest heavy civil engineering contractors. Dufferin Construction has headquarters in Oakville Ontario. One of their many major projects included the building of Highway #407. Dufferin Constructions principal area of operation is Southern Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa.

Strabag has contracted Dufferin Construction for surface and concrete works including the construction of the Grout Gallery Tunnel at the intake site.

 

 

 

MORRISON HERSHFIELD CONSULTING ENGINEERS

Morrison Hershfield is a multidisciplinary engineering and management firm. Engineering and design build services are provided to clients in the Transportation, Building, Life Sciences, Municipal, Utilities and Telecommunications sectors.

Morrison Hershfield Group Inc. is an employee owned organization. It is a corporate holding company with a mandate to operate national and international professional consulting engineering businesses through the Morrison Hershfield Group of Companies.

Morrison Hershfield has been employed in the design of the Niagara Tunnel Project.

At the 2008 Canadian Consulting Engineer Awards, Morrison Hershfield Limited won an award for the Water resources & energy production category for their work on the Intake works at the Niagara Tunnel Project in Niagara Falls. 

 

 

 

ILF CONSULTING ENGINEERS

ILF Consulting Engineers was founded by Mr. P.Lässer, M.Sc., and Mr. A.H.Feizlmayr, M.Sc., in 1969. The abbreviation ILF is derived from the German company name "Ingenieurgemeinschaft Lässer-Feizlmayr".

On the basis of its well-tested know-how, ILF has continually extended its mission to all continents. Today, ILF ranks among the world's leading independent engineering consultants; particularly with regard to tunneling, underground construction and pipeline engineering.

ILF has been employed in the design of the Niagara Tunnel Project.

 

 

 

BERMINGHAM CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Established in 1897, Bermingham Foundation Solutions is an internationally renown company having works in more than 33 countries worldwide.

Bermingham Construction has been instrumental in building the infrastructure of Canada. The company worked on the famous Crow’s Nest Pass for the Canadian National Railway, as well as ports, docks, bridges and highway overpasses all over the country.

Today, the company is active in building foundations for bridges, condominium towers, power plants, water treatment plants, and docks mostly in Ontario and Eastern Canada.

Bermingham is an industry leader and innovator. It is known for developing the StatnamicTM Load test which is used extensively in Asia, North America and Europe.

Bermingham is introducing a revolutionary green technology to North America - geothermal foundations that produce heating and cooling.

Bermingham Construction Company has been employed in the building of cofferdams and steel sheet  pile-driving for the Niagara Tunnel Project.

 

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) breaks through into the Grout Tunnel on March 1st 2011
 

TBM RECORD BEST
 

BEST MONTH: July 2009 for mining with a distance of 467.8 meters (1,534.7 feet)
BEST WEEK: July 12th-July 18th 2010 for mining with a distance of 153.2 meters (503 feet)
BEST DAY: May 1st 2010 for mining with a distance of 25.4 meters (88.33 feet)
BEST SHIFT: July 5th 2009 for a mining shift with a distance of 14 meters (46 feet)

Total Tunnel Length:
10,148 meters long
33,293.5 feet

 

The TBM reached the 5,000 meter milestone of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 14:08 hours (2:08 p.m.) on July 29th 2009

The TBM reached the 5,079 meter official halfway milestone of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 02:30 hours (2:30 a.m.) on August 4th 2009

The TBM intersected the Grout Tunnel at the 9,845 meter milestone of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 13:15 hours (1:15 p.m.) on March 1st 2011

The TBM reached the 10,143.026 meters milestone officially ending the mining phase of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 12:34 hours (12:34 p.m.) on May 13th 2011

GEOLOGY CHARTS

ROCK OF AGES CHART

SILURIAN ERA ROCK CHART

STRATA OF THE NIAGARA GORGE CHART

NIAGARA RIVER AND WATER DIVERSION

The Niagara River is 35 miles (59 km) long and runs in a north-south direction from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It is an International Boundary between Canada and USA. The average flow of the river is estimated at 6,000 cubic meters per second (211,887 cubic feet per second).

The specified rates of water flow over the Falls (listed above) are mandatory minimums. All water specified in this Treaty in excess of water reserved for scenic purposes may be diverted for power purposes.

On April 17th 1973, the governments agreed to use Eastern Daylight Savings Time as the basis of interpreting the hours specified by section IV of the treaty.

Under the terms of this treaty all excess waters available for water diversion for power generation shall be divided equally between Canada and the United States. An exception allows Canada to divert an additional 5,000 cubic feet of water per second from the Welland Canal or the Niagara River by a 1940 government agreement pertaining to the downstream use of waters from Canada's Long Lac and Ogoki water diversions into the Great Lakes. These water diversions are specifically excluded from the waters allocated in the Niagara River Water Diversion Treaty of 1950.

The Niagara River Water Diversion Treaty came into force upon the date of the exchange of ratifications [Oct. 10, 1950] and continues in force for a period of fifty (50) years and thereafter until one (1) year from the day on which either party shall give notice to the other party of its intention of terminating the Treaty.

NEED FOR THE NEW NIAGARA TUNNEL

The 1950 Treaty stipulated: "Until such time as there are facilities in the territory of one party to use its full share of the diversions of water for power purposes agreed upon in this Treaty, the other party may use the portion of that share for the use of which facilities are not available".

In order to best utilize the water available for diversion, the New York State Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation signed an agreement on January 19th 1965 to share generation capacity. Both power companies have rented available power generating capacity from each other to maximize utilization of their respective shares of water available for power production. Original ownership of the water shares has been maintained. This agreement allows each company to minimize the costs of equipment outages and to provide for the handling of ice problems. In simple terms, when Ontario Power Generation (OPG) - Sir Adam Beck Power Stations (Canada) has surplus water shares available for diversion and no extra generation capacity, they rent the generation capacity available at New York State Power Authority (NYSPA) - Robert Moses Power Station for power generation. The power generated is for the use of Ontario Power Generation. This agreement is reciprocal and NYSPA does the same with their surplus water share.

The power companies of both countries continue to upgrade their power generators to increase power capacity however their respective abilities to draw water are limited by not only the terms of this treaty but their capacity to draw available waters (refer below).

Ontario Power Generation has a combined water drawing capacity of 72,400 cubic feet per second (includes DeCew Falls Generating Station). At present, New York State Power Authority - Robert Moses Generating Station has a water drawing advantage of approximately 36,600 cubic feet per second.

There are occasions when power generation is reduced below actual capacity at times of low water flow rates in order to maintain the treaty minimal flow over the Falls.

There are occasions when the amount of water in the Niagara River available for diversion exceeds the ability of the power stations to draw this excess. Ontario Power Generation and the Ontario Government are currently studying methods upon which to increase their water share drawing capacity in order to increase power generation capacity.

"...The two countries share the water for power production as per Article VI.  This amount, of course, depends on the river flow which changes constantly.  When the level of Lake Erie, and its corresponding outflow, is low, there may not be sufficient water available for maximum power generation.....in either country.  On the other hand, when the opposite is true i.e. high lake levels and river flows the amount of water available for power production exceeds generation/diversion capacity and water will be "spilled" over the Falls (in other words in amounts greater than the required Falls flow minimum). 

A program of unit upgrades at both Ontario Power Generation's Sir Adam Beck and the New York Power Authority's Robert Moses Niagara Power Project, begun in the 1990s and due for completion in the next couple of years has been increasing this generation/discharge capacity.  While the tunnels on the U.S. side are capable of handling their diversions, in all but the most extreme case (short term storm events which can result in very high flow conditions), a new OPG tunnel or tunnels and additional generating station would increase the frequency of maximum water diversion for power generation on the Canadian side..."

Len Falkiner, Secretary, International Niagara Board of Control (IJC)
 

The megawatt (symbol: MW) is a unit for measuring power equal to one million (10⁶) watts.
The gigawatt (symbol: GW) is a unit for measuring power equal to one billion (10⁹⁾ watts.

RELATED LINKS

Strabag Organization Chart - Niagara Tunnel Project

Niagara Tunnel Project - Technical Facts

Picture Gallery

Niagara Tunnel Project - Vehicles, Carriers & Bridges

Niagara Tunnel Project - Chronology of Events

Ontario Power Generation - Quarterly Reports

To learn more about the Niagara Tunnel project visit following educational web sites:

 Ontario Power Generation Niagara Tunnel Project

Strabag Company's Niagara Tunnel Project

The History of Power

Niagara River Water Diversion