Hwy. 43:10 E. of Little Smoky River to W. of Iosegun Lake Kilometre 9.354 to Kilometre 20.040

About the Project

The project consisted of constructing the grade for the Eastbound lanes (twinning) of Highway 43:10 to a 19.45 metre finished subgrade width with six permanent median crossings. The Contract also included sideslope improvements continuously along the existing NBL for the entire length of the project to a design ratio of 6 horizontal to 1 vertical.

A total of fourteen borrow sources were designed along the proposed southbound lane with a design quantity of 1,323,000 m3 for subgrade construction and another 108,500 m³ for the northbound lane sideslope improvements. All fill materials for the newly constructed southbound lane subgrade was taken from nine borrow sources along the west side to avoid hauling fill material across Highway 43. Four borrow sources were located on the east side of Highway 43 for service roads, private roads and road allowance realignments. Material for the northbound lane sideslope improvements came from borrow sources on both sides of Highway 43.

Total design common excavation for the project was 655,000 m³ which included a quantity to double handle stripping for topsoil placement.

Two unnamed minor watercourses cross Hwy. 43:10 within the Project limits at km 17.977 and km 19.685. These watercourses are creek tributaries that convey waters west into the Little Smoky River. No bridge pipes were required at these crossings.

All existing dugouts within the existing 121.92m highway right-of-way and/or within new service road right-of-way were backfilled.

Six new service roads were constructed throughout the project.

Our Role

In summary, this project was successfully completed in one of the most difficult areas of the Province and having dealt with difficult wet site conditions. As noted at the Tri-party meeting (Owner, Contractor, Engineer) held after the project final inspection, this project is an example of a true partnership between Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, Thompson Bros. (Constr.) Ltd. and Stewart, Weir Co. Ltd. An excellent quality project has been delivered of which all parties can be justly proud.

The Contractor, Thompson Bros. (Constr.) Ltd. based in Spruce Grove, Alberta started construction with clearing and timber salvage of borrow sources on June 9, 2003 and shut down for winter on November 15, 2003. The Contractor recommenced construction on May 14, 2004 and completed the project by June 24, 2004.

The Sub-Consultants of this project consisted of J.R. Paine & Associates Ltd. for materials testing; Enviro Mak Inc. for environmental management; CRA for borrow disturbance assessment and Westworth Associates Environmental Ltd. for natural resources management.

As Prime Consultant, Stewart, Weir provided design, construction management and Contract administration from project initiation to completion. Our role consisted of preliminary survey and design, preparing of tender package, construction survey, project management and Contract administration.

In addition to this twinning project, a pilot project involving 3D laser scanning was carried out by Stewart, Weir to evaluate this technology and compare it with more conventional survey methods. Two sections of roadway and two borrow pits were surveyed with both Total Station equipment and 3D Scanning equipment, and the results compared, on both accuracy and production time scale. The comparison showed that the scanning technology produced results that are in agreement with the traditional survey. The efficiency of the scanning depends on factors such as shape of surveyed feature and surrounding terrain. In particular, the borrow pits, which are roughly square in shape and depressed relative to the surrounding terrain were surveyed much more quickly than through conventional methods, while the roadway sections, being long and narrow, and in many cases above the surrounding terrain took more field survey time than the conventional methods. Post processing time required for 3D scanning is significantly greater than that required by conventional survey methods.

The pilot project successfully demonstrated the capability of 3D scanning as a viable option for measuring earthworks. This technology will prove most beneficial to the survey of areas with restricted access conditions, such as on or near unstable slopes, high traffic areas or other unsafe areas.

Team

Designers, draftspersons, utilities coordinator, Senior Engineers and Technologists, Surveyors, Project Manager, Materials Testing, Field staff.

Technology

Total Station, AutoCAD, EMXS, 3-D Laser Scanner.