It all started with an invitation from David Laseur, of the Tunnel committee, on May 22nd, 2016 to visit the derelict site of the Brockville Railway Tunnel. After visiting the site, chief designer of Ford Electric Brockville designed all the amazing elements including lighting, audio, infrastructure, power house/back-up power and safety features that you see today in the tunnel.
“Philips Color Kinetics LED lighting system was a perfect solution to bring Ford Electric’s vision together,” said David Bouwers of Ford Electric Co, lead lighting and infrastructure designer for the Brockville Tunnel project. “Our design team wanted to turn what had become an overlooked part of the City of Brockville into a safe, energetic and vibrant attraction not only for the local community but also to change the historic tunnel into a tourist attraction on the world stage.”
The Brockville Railway Tunnel was constructed in the late 1850s and was the first of its kind in Canada. It is located underneath the downtown area of Brockville, Ontario. The Railway Tunnel underwent an interior rehabilitation, complete with beautiful light show, to make it possible for citizens and visitors to travel on foot through the inside, from the south portal to the north portal, coming out at the north-end gorge and ramp to the street level. The Railway Tunnel acts as a path from the city’s beautiful waterfront to the scenic Brock Trail recreational pathway.
Cool Timeline
March 13
March 29 – Video
April 2
First load of piping for the “Light Up The Tunnel Project”.
April 21
Retaining wall underway
April 22
Having a look in the extraction shaft.
April 23
Kiosk piping underway
April 24
Our Head Promotions Manager had to come check out the Tunnel Project.
April 25 – Video
April 27
Very happy to see those gates gone!
April 28
Getting power ready for the North Gorge Power House.
April 29
Chain-gang trench work for the North Gorge Power House
April 30
Kiosks getting formed, poured and set.
May 1 – Video
May 2 – Video
May 3
Powerhouse is looking Good!
May 4 – Video
May 5 – Video
May 6 – Video
May 7 – Video
May 8
Those are some HEAVY reels for the Light Up the Tunnel Project
May 9
May 10
Many hands make light work. Lol. No this is going to be a LOOONG week.
May 11
No stop lights down in the tunnel to slow you down
May 12
Another Kiosk’s wires in place.
May 13
May 30
Empty Kiosk waiting for some product.
May 31
June 1
Prepping forms for sidewalks
June 4
June 27
Getting more of the Tunnel formed and ready for concrete
June 28
Hard to believe what size of trucks we can fit in Canada’s First Railway Tunnel
June 29
Bill Salo and his crew from Thundercrete is doing an amazing job working with us to make our August time table for the opening.
June 30
July 1
Forming curbs to mount our lights onto.
July 2
July 3 – Video
July 5
July 7
Generator for Tunnel being put into place.
July 8
Starting to “See some light near the end of the Tunnel”
July 9
July 10
July 11
July 13
New 200 amp service at south end of Tunnel to power new exciting events in Brockville
July 14
July 15
July 16
Part of the blasted section in all it’s glory.
July 17
iHeart Radio – Brockville’s Railway Tunnel Light Show Previewed
July 18
Can’t wait for you all to see this in person!
July 19
July 19
Looks like we are in the arctic in July with this Colour.
July 20
July 21
What colours would you like to see on opening day.
July 22
Video
30 DAY BROCKVILLE RAILWAY TUNNEL RE-OPENING CONTEST! DAY #19. Ford Electric is so excited for the opening of the tunnel…
Posted by Ford Electric (Brockville) Co. Ltd on Sunday, July 23, 2017
July 24 – Video
July 25
New exhaust fan, chimney repairs and barrier being planned out for opening day. Upper Canada HVAC Systems Ltd. Hamelin Construction
July 26
July 28
Even the engineers are getting in on the picture taking.
July 28
Recorder.ca – Prime time for Brockville tunnel
July 29 – Video
July 30
August 2
Aug 3 – Video
August 4
August 5
August 7
Soon the tunnel the will be filled with people seeing it for the first time! I can’t wait!
August 9
Aug 10
CTV Ottawa – Canada’s first railway tunnel reopened in Brockville
August 10
August 11
The tunnel is officially “Golden” approved. On this last day of final touches before the opening day on Saturday August 12th I took some time and looked at all the facebook posts going back months and months and enjoyed looking at the progression of this amazing project and It was so exciting for all of us at Ford Electric to work on the concept, design and implementation of it. Thank you for all the support the community has given all of us and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
August 12
OPENING DAY!!! A few of the City of Brockville staff got a sneak peak of the tunnel Friday afternoon. These ladies and gentlemen will be working hard all weekend to make sure everyone has a great time at all the local festivities this weekend. It’s going to be a great opening day and special thanks goes out to our city workers!
August 14
Philips Lighting – Canada’s First Railway Tunnel Lights Up for the First Time
August 23
Lighting Solutions Middle East – Canada’s first rail tunnel lights up
Aug 29
