Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4
Kicking Horse Canyon is known for being one of the most technically challenging sections of Highway 1, winding through a steep canyon with the Kicking Horse River on the downslope side and the canyon upslope on the other. According to the Province of BC, the Trans-Canada Highway route through the Kicking Horse Canyon carries approximately 12,000 vehicles daily during peak summer season, with 30% of that being commercial vehicles moving millions of dollars of goods for international and interprovincial trade.
Key Project Information
- Project Type:Transportation
- Budget:$15M
- Timeline:November 2020 – May 2024
- Client:Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Location:British Columbia
In Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon project, CDI was retained for the installation of nearly all foundation piling on the site. The work included five different drilling spreads, working simultaneously to install pilings for four different bridges, eight viaducts, three stabilization walls, and an assortment of temporary structures along the 4.8 km stretch of highway.
Scope of Work
Norland Infrastructure divisions were awarded the subcontract for pile foundations, and rock & slope stabilization. This involved supplying and placing the West End Piling Package which included 11 separate bridge structures with varying pile diameters ranging from 620 mm to 1220 mm.
Challenges
The project was highly complex with rock socketed drilled shafts up to 50 m long. The access constraints were further complicated by strict traffic management closures and ever-changing availability to drilled shaft locations. This required extensive communication and planning with operations, design, and geotechnical personnel.