Alberta's Oil-Driven Construction Boom

The pace of construction in oil-soaked Alberta is so intense that projects dogged by labour shortages are drawing inexperienced workers from across the country -- and complaints about shoddy construction.

1 minute read

June 3, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

By Michael Dudley

"Alberta seems to have become a never-ending construction site. Everywhere you look, something is being built. From roads to houses to skyscrapers, billions are being spent as the energy-fuelled boom literally transforms the province. According to recent government figures, about $162-billion worth of major industrial projects are under way around Alberta, with 62 per cent of those being oil-sands-related.

Alberta is sucking construction materials and workers from job sites all across the country, but there never seems to be enough help and supplies to keep up with the unprecedented demand. Skyrocketing construction costs, now among the highest in Canada, are also a constant headache for builders and governments trying to keep up.

But despite all the challenges, the province and municipal governments are still planning on spending record amounts on public infrastructure. The demand for help is so high that some projects are tendered without receiving a single bid. Everybody is working full out."

FULL STORY: Under construction: Alberta

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 in The Globe and Mail

Infrastructure Alberta

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