North Saskatchewan River Bridge Replacement
The 1st phase started with the construction of the east river pier and installing 5 each 1500mm diameter concrete caissons 14m deep. They were excavated using a temporary casing installed to pile tip. The very dense clay shale bedrock (N100+) would not seal off and all piles were poured using tremie concrete procedures. The temporary casing was extracted as the concrete was tremied. Caissons were tested for H2S gas during the entire drilling process.
The east abutment was also installed in the 1st stage with -35 degree weather.
During the spring of 2012, the berm installed to support the installation of the girders, flooded due to extremely high water levels. Sheet piles were installed to reinforce the berm cofferdam as extra work.
The second stage work started in September, 2012 with the installation of the west abutment h-piles. Excavation for the 3rd pier was completed after the abutment piles were driven. 5 each 1500 mm diameter shafts were completed at the third pier. The drill rig and crew moved from the 3rd pier to the 2nd pier and the shafts were installed. All shafts were wet and tremie concrete procedures were used to complete the shafts.
North East Anthony Henday Bridge Project
Scope of Work
Our team installed piles ranging from 610mm to 3000mm in diameter for bridge piers, stabilization piles, and deep support piles through abandoned coal mines. Key components included:
- Bridge Construction: Installed 16 cast-in-place concrete caissons, 3 meters in diameter, for a new bridge crossing the North Saskatchewan River. Work was performed within a dewatered berm to manage static water pressure.
- Slope Stability Wall: Constructed on the riverbanks, featuring 89 CIP concrete shafts, 1500mm in diameter.
- Overpass Drilling: Installed 139 drilled shafts, 610mm in diameter, to a depth of 43m through an abandoned coal shaft, utilizing 762mm oversized casings to mitigate hazardous gas exposure.
Challenges & Solutions
- Water Pressure Management: Developed innovative solutions to handle massive static water pressure within the river pier piles.
- Hazardous Gas Mitigation: Telescoped piles through oversized casings to prevent methane gas leaks and H2S exposure.
- Complex Site Conditions: Additional planning was required due to the bridge’s location over an active CP Rail Yard, exposure to hazardous gases, and extreme weather conditions.
Overall Impact
The Anthony Henday Project exemplifies CDI’s capability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects under challenging conditions. Our innovative techniques and commitment to safety ensured the successful completion of this critical development, enhancing Edmonton’s transportation infrastructure and demonstrating our leadership in the specialty foundation industry.