Canada’s Government announces over $500 million in Trenton expansion projects

[Nfld Sapper]

News Release
Canada’s Government announces over $500 million in Trenton expansion projects
NR - 08.062 - September 5, 2008

OTTAWA, Ont. – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced several expansion projects today for 8 Wing/CFB Trenton. This investment of more than $500 million includes infrastructure upgrades, and the expansion of the base to accommodate the relocation of Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2).

“Trenton is one of the busiest air force bases in Canada,” said Minister MacKay. “In line with the Canada First Defence Strategy, this $500 million investment will not only provide infrastructure in support of new airlift capabilities, but also expand the base in preparation for the arrival of JTF 2.”

Numerous infrastructure projects are required to rebuild the flight line at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton to accommodate evolving tactical and strategic airlift capabilities. The projects, which will be in various planning stages over the next five years, include the rebuilding and construction of new taxiways, ramps and aprons as well as several new maintenance hangars.

The plan to relocate JTF 2 to 8 Wing/CFB Trenton is a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to maintain a robust counter-terrorism capability force. JTF 2 has been increasing its personnel strength and enhancing its capabilities. As a result, the unit has begun to outgrow its current location of Dwyer Hill Training Centre located in the National Capital Region. 8 Wing/CFB Trenton meets JTF 2’s needs for sufficient space and specialized facilities. The relocation of the unit will take place in several years.

DND has been working with the Department of Public Works and Government Services to purchase parcels of land bordering the Wing to accommodate the operational requirements of JTF 2. It is the Department’s objective to secure, through PWGSC, the necessary land requirements for the unit. 8 Wing/CFB Trenton is currently home to the CC-177 Globemaster IIIs, and will be the home of the new C-130J Hercules tactical aircraft.

 

[gaspasser]

Well a little too late but good news for "us".  The construction has been on the go now since May.  Larger ramps areas to accommodate the C-17s.  More hangers and maybe an extra taxiway or two.  Plus infrastructure which will include a new-up-to-date grand honking big facility for Wing Transport, baseside and airfield equipment.   
No news yet about our secret friends moving here....

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Backgrounder
Trenton Expansion
BG – 08.020 - September 5, 2008

History

8 Wing /CFB Trenton officially opened in August 1931. It originally consisted of 968 acres of farmland purchased because of its natural advantages as a land, plane, and seaplane station. Advantages include a moderate climate, as well as proximity to industrial and populated centers such as Ottawa and Toronto.

Over the years, the base has seen many changes and has fulfilled several different roles. Most Canadian Forces (CF) personnel and equipment deployed for overseas missions pass through Trenton at one time or another. Aircraft and personnel from 8 Wing/CFB Trenton are often involved in re-supplying Canadian Forces Station Alert, the world's northernmost inhabited location. As well, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton's 424 Squadron is responsible for providing search and rescue coverage over a one million square-kilometer area in central Canada.

Today, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton employs approximately 3000 CF regular and reserve members and over 600 civilian employees, and is one of the largest and busiest air force bases in Canada. It is as a hub for air transport operations, and is involved in virtually every CF operation.

Trenton construction projects

Numerous infrastructure projects are required to rebuild the flight line at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton in order to accommodate evolving tactical and strategic airlift capabilities. These projects are in various planning stages with construction planned over the next five years. These projects include:

Recapitalizing Taxiways and Aprons (South East) - Rebuilding of the remaining concrete apron on the east side of Hangar 10 to support the weight of a CC-177 aircraft and to match the grades of the previously upgraded area on the northeastern portion. The project is currently underway.

Additional North West Ramp Construction - Construction of new concrete apron and associated taxiways to service the new long-term maintenance hangars to be constructed on the northwest side of the existing runway.

Upgrading Fuel Storage and Hydrant Distribution - Increasing the fuel storage capacity because of fuel demands of the CC177 aircraft and disperse fuel hydrants throughout the south aprons to facilitate aircraft refueling. This project will also entail the construction of a storage capacity for fuel removed from aircraft.

Building a De-Icing Facility - Construction of an area designed to de-ice aircraft, apply an anti-icing product, store new de-icing and anti-icing products and to collect used products for disposal.

Providing New Office Accommodations - Provide a facility to house the administrative functions of the three operational transport squadrons along with the pilots and loadmasters of the aircraft at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton. This will allow for the collocation of these squadrons and other Wing operations.

Relocating Aircraft Maintenance Support Equipment (AMSE) / Shops and Demolish Hangars 5 & 6 - Provide interim accommodations for the occupants of existing Hangars 5 and 6 so these hangars can be demolished. The area adjacent to these hangars has been chosen for the Snag Recovery Hangar for both the CC-177 and CC-150 Polaris aircraft.

Replacing Maintenance Shops and Supply Stores - Relocation of the 8 Air Maintenance Squadron (AMS) secondary shops to the northwest side of the runway near the long-term maintenance hangars and to eventually facilitate the disposal of Hangar 10.

Providing Fire Protection / Suppression Distribution - Providing suitable and adequate fire suppression and fire fighting capability for all hangars at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton.

Upgrading Utilities / Roads - Upgrading and realigning existing roads and underground utilities to coincide with the location and needs of the new hangars and upcoming related infrastructure.

Replacing and Upgrading the Fire Hall - Replacing the existing fire hall to accommodate new firefighting equipment required due to the permanent stationing of CC-177 aircraft at Trenton, and to meet the required response times to any location on the airfield.

Recapitalizing Apron (West) - Reconstruction of the concrete apron on the west side of Hangar 10 to correct drainage problems, to coordinate with the finished floor elevations of the new hangars to be constructed and to compensate for the loss of aircraft parking location due to the increased size of the new hangars being constructed.

Relocating Canadian Forces Advanced Land Warfare Centre and Demolish Hangars 7 & 8 - Relocation of the occupants of Hangar 7 and 8 to facilitate the demolition of this structure, as this is the chosen location for the hangars required for the C130J aircraft.

Constructing Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre - Construction of a new multi purpose facility for the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre. This will include the reconstruction of sports fields displaced for the construction of the new facility, and the demolition of the unit’s current interim accommodations.

In addition to the projects listed above, four hangars will be constructed in support of both tactical and strategic airlift capabilities. Construction of these hangars is intended to be completed by 2012. The total estimated project cost of these hangars, an investment by this government totaling approximately $260 million, was announced in June 2006.

Relocation of JTF 2 to CFB Trenton

Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2) is the CF’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) unit responsible for a broad range of missions, including counter-terrorism operations and armed assistance to other government departments. The unit is currently operating out of Dwyer Hill Training Centre (DHTC), located near Ottawa.

JTF 2 has expanded beyond the operational capacity of its current location. An extensive options analysis study was conducted and concluded that 8 Wing/CFB Trenton will best meet JTF 2’s requirements. Relocation to 8 Wing/CFB Trenton will enable future growth and enhancement of JTF 2’s capabilities.

In September 2006, DND and Public Works Government Services Canada (PWGSC) conducted a preliminary investigation into the feasibility and possibility of acquiring several parcels of land, totaling approximately 400 hectares, bordering 8 Wing/CFB Trenton to the north. The land, primarily agricultural, will accommodate the operational requirements of JTF 2.

The JTF 2 move will not take place for several years so that land acquisitions may be finalized and infrastructure initiatives completed.

 

[dapaterson]

Backgrounder
Trenton Expansion
BG – 08.020 - September 5, 2008
In September 2006, DND and Public Works Government Services Canada (PWGSC) conducted a preliminary investigation into the feasibility and possibility of acquiring several parcels of land, totaling approximately 400 hectares, bordering 8 Wing/CFB Trenton to the north. The land, primarily agricultural, will accommodate the operational requirements of JTF 2.

The JTF 2 move will not take place for several years so that land acquisitions may be finalized and infrastructure initiatives completed.

I somehow suspect the asking price just went up by 50%.

 

[Old Sweat]

DP,

You know what I like about you? You are refreshingly cynical and realistic, even if I can't spell your name.

A century ago the department seemed to have been smarter: the minister had selected the land for a training area in Quebec near a place called Valcartier circa 1911. The land was purchased in small bits by a trusted agent working for an unnamed client (the Canadian government) over the next few years. As a result it was available in August 1914 to be turned into a mobilization camp constructed by the contractors who had been working on the Connaught Ranges near Ottawa.

 

[stefatc]

I'm presently in Trenton and it is verry crazy... Trenton airfield is changing fast and some buildings are going up or down. Soon (next year) we gonna have our new tower yes yes yes!

Stef Atc

 

[dapaterson]

Old Sweat:

I'm just cynical enough to want to look at the land records for the past couple of years, and look for any large purchases - and then track back their connections to people in the know.  But of course, any such things would be pure co-incidence...

 

[lone bugler]

Wow sounds like an amazing renovation of the place. I'm glad they are redoing the roads, I was on my way to bellville just a few weeks ago and stopped by in trenton, certain sections of the road could use an overhaul