Over the past two decades, the Timberlea Neighbourhood in Fort McMurray has been subject to flooding during heavy rainfall events. These storm events overwhelm the sanitary sewer system, causing the sewer to surcharge and backup, resulting in basement flooding. In 2014, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo developed a Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP) for Fort McMurray with a focus to prioritize resolving this problem. The Municipality defined the Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Upgrade capital project to address areas prone to sewer surcharging.

Project Manager, Owen Mierke, tells us, “The scope of the project sought to address sewer back-up and failing infrastructure, and accommodate future growth. The first phase of the project addressed localized basement flooding, while the second phase delivered larger system upgrades.”

Phase 1 traverses through the existing Timberlea neighbourhoods, along the top of the bank, and terminates at the existing trunk sewer in the north boulevard of Confederation Way.

Phase 2 extends from Phase 1 and includes replacing an existing 450 millimetre gravity trunk sewer with a 750 millimetre gravity trunk sewer, a siphon inlet control structure, upgrading an existing double-barrel (500 millimetre and 300 millimetre) siphon with a triple-barrel (650 millimetre, 650 millimetre, and 550 millimetre) siphon, metering chambers, a flow control structure, and a rock trap structure at the wastewater treatment plant.

Using an integrated design approach, the project team collaborated with the Municipality, geotechnical specialists, trenchless contractors, residents, regulatory agencies, general contractors, and multiple stakeholders to develop an innovative design that addressed the complex geotechnical issues and built-up environment. Associated Engineering implemented a tailored project management plan to help address the project’s many challenges.

“Risk management, an integrated project delivery approach, contractor pre-qualification, proactive communication, and extensive stakeholder engagement with the residents and municipal stakeholders contributed to public acceptance and the success of the project.”

The 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire had a large impact on this project, affecting the scheduled completion and transportation and construction logistics. The Municipality had to minimize traffic disruptions on the wildfire rebuild haul routes for Stone Creek, within the residential neighbourhood of Timberlea, in which wildfire destroyed 379 structures, and was located beside the project site. Owen tells us, “Offloading of materials and equipment was restricted to single-lane temporary closures, as total closure would have impacted the contractor’s completion of wildfire restoration works.”

Extending from the Timberlea Neighbourhood to the wastewater treatment plant two kilometres away, with 100+ metre elevation difference, the Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer upgrade traversed unstable slopes; crossed several pipelines, shallow utilities, and two interchanges; and passed through the built-up residential neighbourhood and a busy wastewater treatment plant site that never shuts down. Using trenchless technologies, including horizontal directional drilling (HDD), microtunnelling, and pilot-tube auger boring, minimized impact on the environment, residential neighbourhoods, and the public.

Substantially completed in 2023, the $40 million Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Bypass (Phase 2) project provides the Timberlea Neighbourhood with additional sewer capacity, supporting growth and reducing risks associated with basement flooding due to sewer back-up. In addition to providing a resilient sanitary sewer trunk, the Municipality received the added benefit of modern flow control and metering, regulating flows to the treatment plant and easing plant operations. The project demonstrates an integrated design and construction approach and proactive and open stakeholder engagement to implement infrastructure that benefits the community.

The project received an Award of Merit at the Consulting Engineers of Alberta Showcase Awards in 2024.

The post Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer facilitates growth and alleviates sewer flooding in Fort McMurray first appeared on Associated Engineering.

We’re excited to be part of the UESI Pipelines 2024 Conference in Calgary, AB this week! From serving on the conference organizing committee, moderating sessions, authoring papers, and delivering presentations in the technical track program, our participating staff have been busy in the lead up and expect a wonderful few days ahead!

Monday, July 29, 2024

2:00PM – 2:30PM | Macleod D Room
Valley Line West LRT – Drainage Relocation – Microtunnelling Construction Design and Impact
Chris Lamont

Design and construction on the new Valley Line West which connects downtown to the west side of Edmonton is currently underway. EPCOR owns and operates a number of sanitary sewers along the new LRT alignment. Due to the depth, length, and other utility conflicts, the primary sewer was designed to be replaced by primarily by microtunnelling methods. Shanghai Construction Group was awarded the project and began planning for several microtunnel drives. Due to the tight construction timeline two drives were planned to occur simultaneously by microtunnelling from both sides of an existing 1500mm diameter trunk at installation lengths between 400m and 980m. The anticipated jacking loads for the installations were identified as a concern as the existing deep trunk was not designed to take the laterally imposed 500 and 800 Tonnes cyclically over 200 times and at nonconcentric elevations. A finite element analysis of the proposed shaft design system and the loading imposed by the microtunnelling was completed to determine if the potential impacts to the existing tunnel were in excess of what could be resisted. This paper will discuss the steps taken to assess the structural impact of the construction loads on the existing deep sewer trunk. It will also go through the complications and issues encountered during construction and how they were mitigated through working with the owner to minimize public impact on such a large project.

2:30PM – 3:00PM | Glen 208-209 Room
NWIC Upper Plateau Separation Project: Reducing Flood Risk Through Innovative Storm Catchment Separation
Craig Pass, Andrew Wiens

The community of Sunnyside, North of downtown Calgary, Alberta, is located in the Bow River floodplain. Sunnyside is located below a 30 metre high escarpment which separates it from an upper plateau. 290 ha of this upper plateau catchment drains into storm trunks that connect to Sunnyside’s storm system and discharge to the Bow River. In 2013, Sunnyside was subjected to significant flooding twice over the span of two weeks. Associated Engineering worked with The City of Calgary to identify solutions to manage the upper plateau stormwater and reduce flood risk in Sunnyside. The design criteria required management of a 1:50 year rainfall event with a low Bow River level and a 1:5 year rainfall event when the river level is at a 1:100 year level. Associated assessed options to store and pump the stormwater. Feasible storage locations proved difficult to find in the developed, inner-city and pumping the flow proved costly, so Associated also examined conveyance options. Due to the estimated capital cost, the options were vetted through a Value Engineering session convened by The City. The recommended option which was advanced to construction proposed intercepting the upper plateau stormwater and conveying it to the Bow River via a 775 m long, 3.4 m diameter gravity storm trunk. The trunk, which includes a depressed siphon, will convey 20 m3/s during a low river condition and 11 m3/s to a high river. A portion of the trunk was installed by microtunnelling and was the largest diameter microtunnelling installation in Canada as of the installation date. By installing the trunk, the storm flows from the upper plateau catchment north of Sunnyside were separated from the local flows generated from within the community for discharge directly to the Bow River during low and high river levels. This created additional capacity in the local existing system, significantly reducing the flood risk for Sunnyside and adjacent communities. The paper and technical presentation will provide insight into the project planning, design and construction delivery.

5:00PM – 5:30PM | Macleod C Room
Saunderson Waterline – Large Diameter HDD Installation
Chris Lamont, Jason Lueke

The Saunderson PRV project is a multi-year project to upgrade water supply for the Lower Townsite (LTS) neighbourhood in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The project includes the construction of a new PRV chamber in the LTS, extension of the existing primary high pressure water supply line, and the installation of a new supply line from the new LTS PRV chamber to the existing Abasand Heights neighbourhood reservoir to by horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The focus of this paper is on the design and installation of the 450 m long, 914 mm diameter HDPE DR9 directionally drilled supply line crossing of Highway 63 from the LTS to the Abasand Heights plateau, a topographic elevation difference of approximately 65 m between entry and exit. Detail design of the installation included consideration of the complex geotechnical stratigraphy, elevation difference, short alignment, connection requirements and its setback from the plateaus top of bank, slope failure zone, and extremely tight workspace restrictions. Construction of the trenchless crossing installation was successfully completed in April 2023. Project complexities were anticipated during design and managed during installation as a result of the elevation difference between drill entry and exit including contingency measures to manage flush-backs during reaming passes, overbreak pipe support at drill exit for pullback, buoyancy control requirements during pullback, and annular space grouting post-installation. This paper will review the steps taken during design and construction to support the successful installation and review lessons learned through the process.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

10:30AM – 11:00AM | Glen 208-209 Room
The City of Edmonton’s Sustainable Utility – Blatchford District Energy System
Aaron McCartie

Following the closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport, the City of Edmonton has approved a redevelopment plan for the 536-acre parcel of land. The City’s Vision is that “Blatchford will be home to up to 30,000 Edmontonians living, working and learning in a sustainable community that uses 100 percent renewable energy, is carbon neutral, significantly reduces its ecological footprint, and empowers residents to pursue a range of sustainable lifestyle choices.” The overall District Energy System design utilizes inter-connected nodes of centralized heat pumps distributing ambient-temperature water to heat pumps in each building. This allows for sharing between buildings and flexibility for connection of additional energy sources in a staged build-out over time. Geoexchange, sewer heat exchange, auxiliary boilers and cooling-towers, Solar PV as a low-GHG electricity source, are included in the overall design concept.   Combining the benefits of building energy efficiency, energy sharing within the system, and highly efficient heat pumps, results in greenhouse gas reductions at 75% below that of business as usual. The 3 MW Energy Centre for Phase 1 was commissioned in Q4 2019 with an initial 1 MW of HP capacity, and a 570 borehole geoexchange field under the future storm water retention pond as it’s renewable energy source. More than 1 km of large-diameter HDPE DPS has a planned 57 service connections. The City of Edmonton has established the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility to own and operate the system. Blatchford has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally, with awards including those from: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada; Canadian Home Builders’ Association; Consulting Engineers of Alberta; Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and most recently International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). This presentation will discuss the assessment, design, and implementation of this innovative and forward-thinking utility project that provides low-carbon heating and cooling service to an urban in-fill, master-planned, sustainable community.

10:30AM – 11:00AM | Telus 104-106 Room
Buffalo Pound Non Potable Water Supply System – Regina Regional Pipeline
Darin Schindel, Keith Kingsbury, Kristin Sies

The Buffalo Pound Non Potable Water Supply System (BPNPWSS)– Regina Regional system will supply non-potable water from Buffalo Pound Lake to industrial customers in the southwest and northeast regions around Regina. The Regina Regional System is an extension of the existing BPNPWSS – East which consists of a lake intake, pumping station and pipelines that currently supply non-potable water to industrial customers in the Belle Plaine corridor. The project as a whole includes two booster pump stations, 65 kilometers of pipe and service laterals and metering stations at various customer sites. The planning of the pipeline began with utilizing GIS to show existing utilities, route challenges and initial consultation with stakeholders. Once the route was chosen, hydraulic analysis was completed to determine the required pressure rating and diameter of the pipe to deliver the required water to the end users. The results of that analysis were that the pipeline would be broken down into 3 sections: Section 1 being 34.5 kilometers of 600mm with an operating pressure of 275psi, Section 2 being 24 kilometers of 500 mm with an operating pressure of 250psi, and Section 3 being 5.5 kilometers of 400mm with an operating pressure of 150psi. The design of the pipeline took a unique and alternative delivery approach. The focus from the client, Saskatchewan Water Corporation (SaskWater), was to determine through industry consultation the most cost effective pipeline material for each section and to determine if the contractors chosen had experience in installing the chosen pipe type. Ductile iron, steel, and HDPE were candidates for Sections 1 and 2, with PVC added as an option for Section 3. The design of the pipeline was completed to 70%, without a specified pipe type for procurement. A Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) pre-qualified 3 contractors to submit a proposal to complete the work. The proposals included the Contractor’s proposed pipeline material for each section meeting the specified criteria, work plan and schedule, additional details on their previous experience and their proposal price. Once the pipe types were chosen, the design was completed with the selected Contractor’s input and construction began in May 2023. This paper will provide an overview of the planning and design process determining the pipeline route utilizing GIS, to 70% design of the pipeline, and finally to obtaining a qualified contractor and completing the design. We will also discuss the challenges and benefits that this approach brought on.

The post Sponsoring and presenting at UESI Pipelines 2024 Conference first appeared on Associated Engineering.

The Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC) announces the award of a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance Grant for the groundbreaking project titled “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Design, Construction, Repair, and Maintenance of Underground Infrastructure.”

This initiative, led by Dr. Alireza Bayat, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of CUIIC, brings together three Canadian universities to develop innovative strategies and technologies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions across various phases of underground infrastructure projects. The co-applicants include Dr. E. Davies, Dr. L. Hashemian, and Dr. S. J. Birchall (University of Alberta); Dr. R. Dziedzic (Concordia University); and Dr. I. L. Stefanovic (University of Toronto).

NSERC and 21 industry partners are funding cash and in-kind contributions totalling three million dollars over five years. The research will provide training opportunities for ten graduate and undergraduate students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and interact with industry professionals in the field of underground infrastructure.

The Industry Partners include: Associated Engineering, EPCOR Water Services Inc., Metro Vancouver, Insituform Technologies, Region of Peel, AECOM, UDI Edmonton, Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, Mott MacDonald Canada Ltd, Stantec Consulting Ltd., ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd, Dura-Line, eTrenchless Group, Lafarge Canada Inc., North American Society for Trenchless Technologies-NW Chapter, ParklandGEO, Precon, PW Trenchless Construction Inc., Westlake Pipe & Fittings, Benjamin Media Inc., Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association.

Jason Lueke, P.Eng., Ph.D., National Discipline Leader, Trenchless Technologies, says, “Associated Engineering is excited to collaborate with CUIIC, NSERC, and our industry partners on this important program to develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions on underground infrastructure projects.”

CUIIC, housed at the University of Alberta, continues to be at the forefront of research and innovation in underground infrastructure leading collaborative efforts between academia and industry to address critical infrastructure challenges.

Dr. Bayat expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “This initiative will advance sustainable practices in the design, construction, repair, and maintenance of underground infrastructure, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.”

The post CUIIC awarded major NSERC Alliance Grant for underground infrastructure research first appeared on Associated Engineering.

Associated Engineering is very pleased to be a supporting sponsor of No-Dig North taking place next week in Edmonton! Supported by the British Columbia, The Great Lakes, St. Lawrence & Atlantic, and Northwest Chapters of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), this year’s event includes a full day of Good Practice Course sessions and a two-day technical program. Key members of our infrastructure practice from Alberta and Ontario will be presenting on all three days and we welcome attendees to hear from them in the following sessions. 

October 23rd

Pre-event Good Practices Course – Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Presenter: Jason Lueke

The HDD Good Practices Guidelines course provides an in-depth overview of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and covers six topics: (1) operation and application; (2) equipment and materials; (3) planning, including surface and geological investigations, utility surveys, bore planning, and regulations and permitting; (4) job site safety; (5) risk reduction, troubleshooting and mitigation; and (6) design.

October 24th

10:05 AM – 10:30 AM | Salon 9
Dunlop St Trunk Sanitary Sewer Relocation – MTBM Highway & Creek Crossing with Limited Cover
Presenter: Thomas Siuda

This paper will discuss the tunnel design by Associated Engineering (Ont.) for the Dunlop Street Trunk Sanitary Sewer Relocation project in the City of Barrie. The project features the design and construction of a 900mm inside diameter (1200mm outside diameter), 235m microtunnel drive crossing Highway 400 and Dyments Creek. Due to design constraints set by the existing sanitary system and required hydraulic performance, there was limited cover for the tunnel underneath both the major six-lane highway and the environmentally regulated creek. As such, the tunnel design was primarily constrained by the vertical alignment and minimal cover. The cover led to design challenges when considering size of tunnel boring machine, operating face pressures, potential for frac out and environmental conditions. The minimal cover under the creek was determined to lead to a frac out and required a design for temporary mitigative measures to place fill above the tunnel crossing and to divert the existing creek through a temporary culvert. The geotechnical conditions allowed for a feasible tunnel path under the highway and the sensitivity of the variable conditions within the design will be demonstrated. This paper will detail the design considerations and calculations used to determine the feasibility of tunneling with the available cover along the alignment and explore the risks.  

2:35 PM – 3:00 PM | Salon 9
99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass: Stage 1 – Microtunnel Installation
Presenter: Christopher Lamont

The 99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass is a two-stage project to ultimately rehabilitate an approximately 1.1 km of cast-in-place concrete arch shape sanitary trunk sewer in Edmonton, Alberta that has been in service for over 70 years. The existing trunk is a crucial link in Edmonton’s wastewater collection system receiving flows from Edmonton’s west end. Phase 1 of the project includes the construction of a ~1.6 km long, 1,800 mm inside diameter bypass sewer, to divert flows for the Phase 2 trunk rehabilitation, and ultimately increase conveyance capacity. The existing tunnel is approximately 30 m below ground, and as such microtunnelling was specified as the required installation methodology for the bypass. The microtunnelling scope was awarded to Shanghai Construction Group (Canada) Corporation. The construction methodology included three drives: ~975 m long, which included a sensitive crossing of the MacKinnon Ravine; ~390 m long; and ~250 m long. Construction started in August 2020 and is anticipated to be complete by mid-2023; the final microtunnel drive was completed in November 2022. Project challenges included difficult ground conditions (abrupt changes in soil strata such as glacial clay till with frequent cobbles and boulders, sand seams, and occasional slabs of clay shale bedrock), complex deep tunnelled connections, tunneling distance, proximity risk to the existing degraded tunnel, and management of the social impacts of the project due to the duration of construction.

2:35 PM – 3:00 PM | Salon 8
Newton Force Main Replacement from Concept to Construction
Presenter: Jason Lueke

The Newton Force Main crosses the Red River in the City of Winnipeg between Fraser’s Grove Park and Newton Avenue / Scotia Street, conveying combined sewage flows from the Linden and Hawthorne Combined Sewer Districts east of the River to the Main Street Interceptor trunk west of the river. The existing crossing includes dual 350 mm diameter pipes constructed in 1960 (steel) and 1978 (HDPE), which were inspected in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Excessive deformation and leaks were identified along the HDPE force main triggering the need for a replacement crossing. A conceptual study was conducted in 2021 to develop routing concepts considering horizontal directional drilling and microtunnelling installation methods and a drilled crossing between Fraser’s Grove Park and Kildonan park was evaluated to be the preferred replacement concept. Detailed design was completed in 2022 and the project was tendered and awarded to Accurate HD Ltd. The replacement crossing consisted of approximately 466 m of 500 mm HDPE DR7 product at a target crossing depth of approximately 32 m below the riverbed within medium strength limestone bedrock (Selkirk member of the Red River Formation). The crossing included a horizontal curve beneath the river and required entry and exit conductor casing through the alluvial overburden soils. A drill intersect method was utilized by Accurate HD Ltd. to install the conductor casings and complete the pilot bore; pullback was successfully completed in March 2023 with a maximum reported pull force of 52,000 lbs.

4:05 PM – 4:30 PM | Salon 9
Northwest Inner City Microtunnel for the Upper Plateau Sewer Separation Project
Presenter: Nadeer Lalji, Jason Lueke 

The Northwest Inner City (NWIC) Upper Plateau Sewer Separation Project is a multi-year project designed to alleviate flooding in the Sunnyside inner-city community in Calgary, Alberta. The project includes the implementation of a large diameter storm trunk syphon to intercept stormwater from the upslope communities, bypassing Sunnyside and discharging directly to the Bow River. Trenchless construction was deemed necessary to minimize disturbance to the community and traverse the change in topography from McHugh Bluff at the edge of the upper plateau to the lower elevation Sunnyside community and ultimately the Bow River. The project was designed as a single ~755 m long, 3,400 mm inside diameter, tunnel drive between a launch shaft near the apparent intersection of 10 Street and 8 Avenue NW and a reception shaft near the intersection of 7 Street and Memorial Drive NW, adjacent to the Bow River. The tunnel alignment consisted of two distinct sections: a deep section beneath McHugh Bluff through Paskapoo Formation bedrock that included a crossing of the Calgary CTrain metro line and a horizontal curve; and a relatively shallow section (less than three tunnel diameters of cover) along 7 Street within Sunnyside initially through bedrock, but ultimately transitioning into the alluvial channel deposits. Construction started in November 2021 and is anticipated to be complete by mid-2023; installation of the storm trunk syphon was completed by microtunnelling at the end of 2022.

2:35 PM – 3:00 PM | Salon 8
Newton Force Main Replacement from Concept to Construction
Presenter: Jason Lueke

The Newton Force Main crosses the Red River in the City of Winnipeg between Fraser’s Grove Park and Newton Avenue / Scotia Street, conveying combined sewage flows from the Linden and Hawthorne Combined Sewer Districts east of the River to the Main Street Interceptor trunk west of the river. The existing crossing includes dual 350 mm diameter pipes constructed in 1960 (steel) and 1978 (HDPE), which were inspected in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Excessive deformation and leaks were identified along the HDPE force main triggering the need for a replacement crossing. A conceptual study was conducted in 2021 to develop routing concepts considering horizontal directional drilling and microtunnelling installation methods and a drilled crossing between Fraser’s Grove Park and Kildonan park was evaluated to be the preferred replacement concept. Detailed design was completed in 2022 and the project was tendered and awarded to Accurate HD Ltd. The replacement crossing consisted of approximately 466 m of 500 mm HDPE DR7 product at a target crossing depth of approximately 32 m below the riverbed within medium strength limestone bedrock (Selkirk member of the Red River Formation). The crossing included a horizontal curve beneath the river and required entry and exit conductor casing through the alluvial overburden soils. A drill intersect method was utilized by Accurate HD Ltd. to install the conductor casings and complete the pilot bore; pullback was successfully completed in March 2023 with a maximum reported pull force of 52,000 lbs.

4:05 PM – 4:30 PM | Salon 9
Northwest Inner City Microtunnel for the Upper Plateau Sewer Separation Project
Presenter: Nadeer Lalji, Jason Lueke 

The Northwest Inner City (NWIC) Upper Plateau Sewer Separation Project is a multi-year project designed to alleviate flooding in the Sunnyside inner-city community in Calgary, Alberta. The project includes the implementation of a large diameter storm trunk syphon to intercept stormwater from the upslope communities, bypassing Sunnyside and discharging directly to the Bow River. Trenchless construction was deemed necessary to minimize disturbance to the community and traverse the change in topography from McHugh Bluff at the edge of the upper plateau to the lower elevation Sunnyside community and ultimately the Bow River. The project was designed as a single ~755 m long, 3,400 mm inside diameter, tunnel drive between a launch shaft near the apparent intersection of 10 Street and 8 Avenue NW and a reception shaft near the intersection of 7 Street and Memorial Drive NW, adjacent to the Bow River. The tunnel alignment consisted of two distinct sections: a deep section beneath McHugh Bluff through Paskapoo Formation bedrock that included a crossing of the Calgary CTrain metro line and a horizontal curve; and a relatively shallow section (less than three tunnel diameters of cover) along 7 Street within Sunnyside initially through bedrock, but ultimately transitioning into the alluvial channel deposits. Construction started in November 2021 and is anticipated to be complete by mid-2023; installation of the storm trunk syphon was completed by microtunnelling at the end of 2022.

October 25th

4:05 PM – 4:30 PM | Salon 8
Opportunities and Challenges when Delivering Construction Administration for a Project Designed by Another Firm
Presenter: Liam Sykes

This paper discusses the importance of having good collaboration between the entire project team, as well as a strong technical team for Contract Administration and Inspection when the Consultant administering the construction did not participate in the design, using the Langstaff Gateway Sanitary Sewer project as an example. The project for York Region (Region) involved 2.1km of 900mm and 1200mm sanitary sewer, installed almost entirely by microtunneling. Associated Engineering (Associated) was awarded the Construction Administration portion of the project, which was designed by a different consultant team (Design Consultant). This paper explores several opportunities and challenges on the project that were unique to or amplified by not being responsible for the design, and how they were overcome. Both technical and non-technical challenges and opportunities are discussed, including review of design change proposals made by the Contractor, unforeseen construction issues such as utility conflicts requiring design changes, interpretation of the contract and reports to respond to claims, and coordination with other stakeholders and the Design Consultant. These examples demonstrate the importance of having a team with a strong tunneling background to quickly respond to construction issues and provides a framework for dealing with design changes and construction administration collaboratively on similar projects. The paper concludes with a discussion on lessons learned and some of the benefits and drawbacks of using this approach.

The post Associated at No-Dig North 2023 first appeared on Associated Engineering.

For many decades, Associated Engineering has proudly served the area of Buffalo Pound Lake in Southern Saskatchewan near Moose Jaw. Over the years, we have successfully provided engineering services for water treatment facilities, lake intakes, pumping facilities, instrumentation systems, vulnerability assessments, and large diameter potable and non-potable water pipelines.  

As Saskatchewan’s commercial Crown water utility, SaskWater has a mandate to provide water services to communities, industries, pipeline groups, and individual users across the province. The Crown corporation engaged Associated Engineering to develop the Buffalo Pound Non-Potable Water Supply System (BPNPWSS) – Regina Regional Project, an extension of the BPNPWSS-East (another Associated Engineering project), in southcentral Saskatchewan near the community of Belle Plaine, between Moose Jaw and Regina.  

Associated Engineering’s scope of work includes design basis, preliminary and detailed design, procurement, and construction. Our team consists of specialists in project management, and civil, structural, fluid dynamics, electrical, instrumentation, controls, and process-mechanical engineering. Associated’s current focus is the $70 million pipeline portion of the project.

The extension of one of SaskWater’s major industrial water systems will supply non-potable water to industrial customers in the Regina area. The Regina Regional System currently includes approximately 65 kilometres of 400 to 600 millimetre diameter non-potable water pipeline, two booster pump stations, metering stations, and related appurtenances. 

A major challenge for the pipeline portion of the work was cost control. The team selected a unique procurement process to help manage costs. Project Manager, Darin Schindel, explains, “Together with SaskWater, we completed the pipeline design to approximately 70% design completion, and then requested proposals from pre-qualified bidders. We engaged the successful bidder to assist in selecting the most cost-effective material to install within an optimal schedule.” Ductile iron was selected as the main pipeline material.

The team addressed additional project challenges, such as land control, the desire to use shared Crown Corporation corridors, and changes to delivery points for some key customers. 

Based on geotechnical investigations and environmental studies, auger bore drilling for trenchless installation was recommended as the final route passed through the ecologically sensitive Cottonwood, Wascana, and Boggy Creeks. Darin says, “Pro-active collaboration between the owner, consultant, and other project partners helped to navigate challenges.”

As part of the booster pump stations and metering stations, the team is investigating using solar panels and net metering for building services power supply. 

The project is planned to be complete in Fall 2024.

As a result of the uniqueness of the project, students from SaskPolytechnic’s Engineering Design and Drafting Technology Program were invited for a tour of the pipeline. Chris Robart (SaskWater), Darin Schindel (Associated Engineering), and Deller Reddekop (Hamm Construction) led the class visit. SaskPoly Instructors, Shawn Young and Earl Wingert, helped students connect what they were seeing on-site with what they learned in the classroom.

CanNorth, an environmental consulting company that is 100% owned by the business arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in Saskatchewan, is providing environmental services for the project. Misty Clifton, a partnership between Misty Ventures from the Mistawasis First Nations in Saskatchewan and Clifton Associates, is undertaking the geotechnical compaction and railway monitoring testing. Scott Land & Lease, land acquisition specialists, are leading the landowner engagement and land acquisition for the project.

Our key personnel involved on the project include Darin Schindel, Keith Kingsbury, Kristin Sies, Bob Hawboldt, John Ullrich, and Josh Fichter.

The post Extension of Buffalo Pound Non-Potable Water Supply System increases capacity to serve industrial customers around Regina first appeared on Associated Engineering.

Rehabilitating and replacing aging infrastructure is one of the largest and most complex issues facing municipalities today. With urban growth and densification, infrastructure managers, engineers, and contractors must find innovative ways to rehabilitate infrastructure while minimizing impact to businesses, the public, and the environment. The City of Edmonton faced these issues in rehabilitating the Groat Road Stormwater Trunk, which had begun to degrade after more than 60 years in service.

The Groat Road Trunk is a corrugated metal plate storm sewer originally built in 1953 by hand tunnelling. The trunk travels along 118th Avenue and Groat Road, discharging into the North Saskatchewan River. It consists of 4 kilometres of 1.7 metre and 2.3 metre diameter pipe, and manholes varying in depth from 7 metres to 17 metres. During an inspection, the City discovered areas of significant pipe wall loss along the pipe invert, as well as on the side walls. Voids, some as deep as 1 metre, were identified under the trunk, as well as on its sides.

The City of Edmonton Drainage Group tendered a $35 million project to rehabilitate the storm trunk as a design-build project. Associated Engineering supported Shanghai Construction Group during the request for proposal stage, developing the design of the rehabilitation works using trenchless construction methods.

As the City’s selected proponent team, Associated provided design and advisory services to Shanghai Construction, and collaborated with Shanghai Construction, their subcontractors, and consultants in weekly meetings for over three years. Our civil engineering scope included fibreglass pipe design, sliplining design, 3D modelling for the segmental design of the fibreglass installation, void/annular space grouting design, construction inspection, and quality assurance. We also completed structural engineering of deep manhole design and structural shaft reviews.

Project Manager, Jason Lueke, tells us, “The City has seen a number of sinkholes due to degraded infrastructure. With the location of the Groat Road Trunk, the voids and potential sinkholes were considered a major risk under this major roadway. These voids are more likely found around drill drops, which this storm trunk used beneath the deepest and busiest sections.”

Chris Lamont, Lead Civil/Sliplining Design and Construction, says, “A major challenge was the degraded condition of the pipe. Void grouting outside of the pipe was a problem, as the grout would shoot back into the storm trunk due the corroded holes in the pipe. To resolve this issue, we had to redesign the tendered grouting plan.”

To install the slipline pipe through small shafts, the team employed 3D modelling to assess feasible pipe lengths. We also considered the weight and ability of pipes to be transported within the tunnel itself for placing, blocking, and grouting. Shafts were excavated down to the storm trunk to install new structures to replace the drill drop manholes.

Chris tells us, “Working in a live storm sewer, we designed custom, perched manhole foundations, independent of the new fibreglass pipe, eliminating the need for a large bypassing pump systems.” This included over excavating onto undisturbed ground outside of the shaft structure to cast the new support for the manholes, which were up to 17 metres deep.

The project was successfully completed in December 2020. Key personnel on this project were Jason Lueke, Chris Lamont, Linda Chacko, Sam Saunders, Keyton Thompson, Caitlin Luo, and Dusanka Stevanovic.

The post Rehabilitating the Groat Road Stormwater Trunk is one of the largest sliplining projects completed in Western Canada first appeared on Associated Engineering.