Graphic illustration of location of Wuskwatim Dam project in Northern Manitoba. (CBC)A construction contract worth almost $300-million for a major hydro-electric project in northern Manitoba has been awarded to three firms from Quebec and Newfoundland, it was announced Tuesday.

The contract for engineering work on the Wuskwatim Generating station on the Burntwood River near Thompson, Man., has been awarded to the O’Connell-Neilson-EBC Partnership, Manitoba Hydro said.

The contract for building earth dams and dykes, concrete superstructures rock excavation and cofferdams is worth $289 million.

The consortium consists of managing partner H.J. O’Connell Construction Ltd., whose project office is in St. John’s, N.L.; Neilson Inc. from Saint-Nicholas, Que.; and EBC Inc. from L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que.

The Wuskwatim Dam is to produce 200 megawatts of power for Manitoba Hydro and customers.

Work on the project began in 2006 and the generating facility is expected to open in 2011. So far, a 48-kilometre access road has been built, 600,000 cubic metres of overburden and 450,000 cubic metres of rock have been excavated for the powerhouse, spillway structures and channels. The site’s infrastructure —including power line, communications, camp, offices, and associated sewer and water — are complete.

“The awarding of the civil contract is a key benchmark of progress on the project," said Manitoba Hydro chief executive Bob Brennan.

"Wuskwatim is a unique project which is serving as a model for future project development, in Manitoba and in other parts of the country. There is a lot of interest in the partnership model from other jurisdictions.”

Among the construction partners are several northern Manitoba aboriginal bands.

The dam is located about 750 kilometres north of Winnipeg.