Civil Construction - Norland Limited

Thomas Creek Pedestrian Bridge Installation

31 July 202331 July 2024
by Kaelan

Scope of Work

Due to limited local availability, the pedestrian bridge was manufactured in Ontario and then shipped across the country. The GIG team assembled the bridge on-site, with an 80-ton crane initially positioning the components and a 500-ton crane completing the final lift. BEL Contracting managed the earthworks, Kingston Construction handled the bridge assembly, and FRPD was responsible for pile driving.

Challenges & Solutions

Transporting the bridge components across the country required meticulous logistics planning, ensuring all parts arrived on-site in perfect condition. The GIG partnership allowed for seamless collaboration, with each partner bringing their expertise to ensure the project was executed smoothly despite its complexity.

Overall Impact

The successful installation of the Thomas Creek Pedestrian Bridge not only facilitates pedestrian access but also supports future development by accommodating a water main underneath, which is crucial for the expanding subdivision. This project highlights GIG’s ability to manage and execute complex infrastructure projects efficiently and effectively.

Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4

30 May 202325 October 2024
by main_admin

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.

Reconciliation Pole Raising

14 March 20232 October 2024
by main_admin

Scope of Work

Collaborating closely with Pro-Tech Industrial Movers, the teams engineered a mechanism that enabled the totem pole to be raised using the traditional method of pulling on ropes. This was particularly challenging given the sheer scale and weight of the pole. During the ceremony, a staggering force of 32,000 lbs was needed to lift the totem pole to its vertical position. This force was generated by hundreds of community members pulling on more than 3,500 feet of rope. Once the pole was upright, which took roughly 10 minutes, BEL Contracting moved swiftly to secure the ropes and complete the backfilling to ensure the totem pole would stand firmly in place. Through these various stages, the teams not only provided technical expertise but also demonstrated a deep respect for the cultural and historical significance of the project.

BEL Contracting was responsible for the initial site preparation, which involved excavating a hole to serve as the base for the totem pole. This also included laying out piles of gravel and rocks, which were later used in the traditional Haida ceremony for raising the pole.

Unique Features and Challenges

What set this project apart were its unique features and challenges. The totem pole was not just a piece of art but a symbol laden with historical and emotional weight. It featured 6,000 copper nails, each hammered into the wood by survivors of residential schools, volunteers, and school children. These nails served as a memorial to Indigenous children who died in residential schools between 1890 and 1996. The project was more than just a technical exercise; it was a community and culturally driven endeavor, bringing hundreds of people together to contribute to the physical work required to erect the pole.

In successfully completing this project, Pro-Tech Industrial Movers and BEL Contracting did more than just execute a construction job; they participated in creating a lasting monument to Canada’s history and a step forward in the path toward reconciliation.