YCG Taxiway and Apron Rehabilitation
Scope of Work:
- Construction of a new apron expansion area, including excavation, granular sub-base course (GSBC), granular base course (GBC), and asphalt paving.
- Installation of 6 new concrete panels and a surrounding transition slab.
- Removal and replacement of trench drains.
- 60mm mill/pave of the existing apron with new line painting.
- Moving and installation of updated airfield lighting and signage.
Challenges & Solutions:
The project required careful coordination of paving operations, stormwater improvements, and airfield lighting installations. By employing precise project management and skilled crews, Copcan ensured on-time delivery without disrupting airport operations.
Overall Impact:
Completed in September 2024, the apron expansion improves operational efficiency and safety at Castlegar Airport, supporting the City of Castlegar’s ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
UBC Museum of Anthropology
Each Totem Pole was wrapped on stretch wrap, then foam and blankets and attached rigging so that when they are picked up, the weight is equally distributed and avoids breaking the pole. Some poles needed structural strengthening, so specialized steel cages were built. One of the most important aspects of this project was working with the First Nations community members who are connected to the poles through their family and community histories. Normally Pro-Tech would have family members and chiefs attend when lowering the pole where they may have specific cultural work or ceremony. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 this was not possible, but museum staff were able to arrange to have them attend over Zoom.
Othello Tunnels
Scope of Work:
Pacific Blasting and Western Grater have partnered to stabilize the Coquihalla Canyon after extensive flood damage. The project involves securing rock faces, reinforcing tunnels, and preparing the site for bridge reconstruction, all while preserving the historic elements of the park.
- Cliff Face Stabilization: Installation of 4-meter rock anchors and pin mesh to secure the loose rock and provide additional stability for the bridge construction.
- Rock Scaling and Slope Protection: Crews drilled anchor patterns, installed ground supports, and used helicopters to fly in mesh reinforcement to minimize the risk of rockfall.
- Tunnel Maintenance: Stabilization of Tunnel 5 to address structural damage and maintain historical integrity. Original wooden trusses and markers from the Kettle Valley Railway have been preserved and restored.
- Shotcrete Shoring: Western Grater provided shotcrete shoring of several rock faces and inside tunnels to further stabilize the area.
Challenges & Solutions:
The project site has been impacted by both flood damage and ongoing rockfall issues. The initial damage to the bridge’s footing was caused by water, while subsequent damage resulted from loose rock. The Pacific Blasting team has been carefully scaling loose material to prevent further erosion and enable safe working conditions for bridge restoration.
Overall Impact:
Once completed, this stabilization project will ensure the safety of the site, allowing repair crews to address flood-related damage to the bridge and protect it from future rockfall incidents. The project also preserves historical elements, such as the original Kettle Valley Railway marker, which has been refurbished and integrated into the tunnel design.
Anything. Possible.
Western Grater played an integral role in the Coquihalla Canyon Recovery Project, contributing their specialized shotcrete expertise to fortify tunnel entrances and interior walls. The shotcrete application, carried out under challenging conditions, provided additional structural stability and protected against future erosion. This collaboration with Pacific Blasting’s Scaling Division ensured that stabilization work could progress efficiently, leveraging the unique capabilities of both business units to overcome the site’s complexities. The teamwork between these two NorLand business units exemplifies a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, safe, and resilient solutions.
767 Douglas Street
Scope of Work:
The 767 Douglas Street project in downtown Victoria was a complex undertaking for Copcan. The project required the demolition and removal of an underground parkade and the historic Empress Hotel Boiler rooms, involving the careful handling of asbestos and heavy metals. Given the project’s location right on the property line and its proximity to the ocean, several specialized shoring techniques were employed to ensure stability and safety.
For the waterfront side of the site, secant piles were installed and tied back with walers and rock anchors. This method was crucial for sealing groundwater and supporting the excavation near the ocean. The design and engineering of these walers were a critical part of the shoring scope, ensuring that the structure could handle the unique challenges posed by the waterfront location.
On the deeper excavation walls further from the water, soldier piles were used in combination with tieback rock anchors and shotcrete. This combination allowed for safe and effective vertical excavation along the property line, providing the necessary support for the excavation without compromising the adjacent structures or the stability of the site.
Overall, the project required a coordinated approach to shoring and excavation, incorporating advanced techniques to address the challenges posed by the site’s location and existing conditions.
Challenges & Solutions:
There were a few technical challenges faced during the construction of this project. Some of the major challenges and solutions were:
- Demolition and Asbestos Abatement: The removal of the existing underground structures, including asbestos and heavy metals, posed environmental and safety risks. Proper abatement procedures and hazardous material handling protocols were implemented to ensure safe removal and disposal.
- Proximity to Waterfront: The excavation footprint was close to the ocean, necessitating specialized shoring methods due to potential groundwater issues and structural stability concerns. The use of secant piles, tieback anchors, and walers for shoring, designed to seal off groundwater and provide structural support, is especially crucial for waterfront-facing excavation.
- Adjacent Building Support: Supporting the adjacent 12-storey Aria building during excavation without compromising its structural integrity. The integration of the Aria building’s existing underground parkade into the shoring system until the excavation depth required independent support, ensuring safety and stability.
- Contaminated Soil Management: Soil contaminated with metals and hydrocarbons from creosote timber piles required careful handling and disposal. The solution was hauling, and disposal of approximately 27,000m³ of contaminated soil at certified facilities, adhering to environmental regulations.
- Foundation and Excavation Depth: Building foundations required precision and careful excavation, especially with depths ranging from 7.6m above sea level to -8.9m below sea level. The use of concrete secant piles and precise blasting techniques designed in-house to meet safety and structural stability requirements during deep excavation.
- Traffic Management: Managing traffic flow on busy roads like Government St and Humboldt St, including maintaining access for cyclists on dedicated bike routes. Comprehensive traffic management plans are implemented to minimize disruption, prioritize cyclist safety, and ensure efficient excavation operations.
Overall Impact:
Construction began in June 2022 and was completed in July 2024. Although there were some delays and construction took longer than expected, overall the project progressed smoothly and was completed on the agreed time with the owners.
Highway 91/17 Upgrades Design-Build
Scope of Work
The project’s scope of work included complex detours, utility relocation, drainage installation, pre-loading of soft soils, lightweight fills, concrete bridge structures, stone columns, drilled shafts, electrical, and all associated roadworks construction. The project, also in close proximity to Burns Bog, required special management and attention to protect environmental and cultural resource values of this complex ecosystem.
Challenges
Traffic management and temporary detour design was a key component to the success of the team’s execution strategy, this included:
- Complex traffic management challenges and careful consideration of staging requirements; multiple project stakeholders requiring coordination of work and effective communication of construction progress.
- Busy intersection upgrade construction while maintaining existing traffic flows and access to multiple businesses and residences.
Malahat Nation Foreshore Reclamation
Scope of Work
The project included approximately 1,040 m3 of excavation to expose the location where the toe of the rip rap structure would be installed. All 1,040 m3 of this material had to be sifted for archaeological material by the archaeological consultant and Copcan crews. Once the excavation was complete, a 300 mm thick layer of filter rock surrounded by geotextile was installed with a 1.4 m thick layer of 500 class rip rap on top. All the excavated material from the toe was then installed back on top of the rip rap near the toe line and the rest was used as fill behind the top of the rip rap structure.
Challenges & Solutions
The Malahat Nation contacted Copcan in July of 2023 to review the Foreshore Protection project. The project was considered an emergency level project for the Nation as the shore has been heavily eroding each year, and the Nation wanted to save as much land as possible in this area before further erosion took place. The new foreshore protection measures had to be installed and completed prior to the Fish Window construction deadline of September 15, 2023. If this deadline was not met, the project could not move ahead that year and the foreshore would continue to erode over the winter season leading to the loss of first nation owned land that was sacred to the community. With such a short window of time to finalize the design, complete the tender process, and construct the works, the Nation engaged Copcan Civil to complete the work and expedite the project.
The land directly adjacent to the foreshore area had been used as a gathering place for the Nation in the past. There was a high chance that construction activities would expose significant archaeological finds. An archaeological consultant was hired by the nation to work alongside a Nation member to help assist the construction crews throughout the construction process.
Copcan utilized GPS excavators for the entire project that allowed Copcan to work underwater with absolute precision. The low tide level at its lowest point was still above the toe of the excavation. All digging was done without any direct line of sight and wouldn’t have been possible without the use of Copcan’s GPS equipment.
Overall Impact
Construction onsite began on July 31, 2023. Excavation activities originally started fairly slow due to the sifting requirements while the team determined the most efficient sifting method. Once the crews and the archaeological team found their rhythm, production started to increase. The rip rap installation met targeting production goals, but all installation and excavation had to be carefully planned around the tidal charts. This led to days of no activity on site as the tide was too high, but these schedule problems were mitigated by Copcan forces working the occasional weekend and long hours outside the typical daily work window.
In the end, all works within the tide zone were completed by September 7th, one week ahead of the fish window deadline. All remaining works were cleaned up and finalized within the following week or two. Substantial Completion was given on September 27, 2023, in advance of the targeted substantial completion date of September 29, 2023.
Broadway Subway Project
The project was a major provincial initiative which involved key stakeholders such as the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver for utility crossings. The expansion aimed to improve accessibility and connectivity within the city and the broader Metro Vancouver region, aiming to enhance transport options, reduce travel times, and boost economic development.
Scope of Work
NorLand’s contributions to the project included excavation and shoring at the Great Northern Way and Arbutus Stations, pre-excavation civil works, utility relocations, and the installation of a lower steel support structure for the traffic deck. Key divisions such as Pacific Demolition, BelPacific, and BEL Contracting brought their specialized skills to each phase of this complex endeavour.
Challenges & Solutions
The Broadway Subway Project required extensive coordination due to the excavation within a street alignment and proximity to multiple hydro crossings and significant Metro Vancouver water lines. Managing traffic flow added complexity, leading to the installation of a steel bridge structure to minimize disruptions. Permit requirements and space limitations necessitated detailed planning and communication, and NorLand maintained its commitment to meet timelines and budgets despite these challenges.
Overall Impact
By improving accessibility for Vancouver’s residents, workers, and visitors, the Broadway Subway Project aligned with NorLand’s commitment to building enduring communities and driving economic growth. NorLand’s collaborative approach and focus on safety and excellence were vital to overcoming obstacles and ensuring the project’s success, further solidifying its role in shaping Vancouver’s transportation infrastructure.