Fort Road Widening
Client:
City of Edmonton c/o PCL
Location:
Edmonton, Alberta
Year:
2023
Project Scope
As part of the Yellowhead Freeway Conversion program, Whissell executed the Fort Road Widening project, a major arterial corridor upgrade extending from Yellowhead Trail to 66th Street and including 125th Avenue from Fort Road East to 61st Street in North Edmonton. The project required deep sewer construction, large-diameter stormwater retention infrastructure, trunk watermain replacement, and railway interface works, all performed within a highly constrained urban and transportation corridor.
- 120,000 m³ of grading and earthworks including asphalt, concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk removals
- 3,100 m of sanitary, combination, and storm sewer lines (150 mm–2,400 mm diameter) from 2 m to 10 m deep
- 430 m of 2,400 mm concrete pipe for stormwater retention at 10 m depth using a slide rail shoring system
- Installation of a 5,500 m³ concrete storm storage tank beneath the Fort Road dry pond
- 4,000 m of watermain installation (primarily 450 mm diameter), including 1,200 m of trunk main
- Construction and removal of two CN rail lock-block grid-reinforced shoeflies to divert active rail traffic during overpass span construction
- 750 mm directional drill under the LRT system; construction of two 10 m+ deep secant pile shafts
- Multiple sewer bypasses supporting deep 1,200 mm sanitary and 2,400 mm storm trunk installations
Challenge & Mitigation
Executing deep excavations up to 10 m in live roadway corridors while maintaining traffic flow and coordinating with active CN rail operations presented the primary challenge. Whissell implemented a slide rail shoring system for the 2,400 mm storm pipe installation and developed detailed bypass pumping plans to maintain sanitary service continuity throughout the deep trunk work. Contaminated soil handling and winter construction requirements were managed through proactive material management planning and flexible crew deployment.
Value Add Solution
Whissell's ability to self-perform the CN rail shoefly construction, a highly specialized scope, eliminated the need for a rail-certified subcontractor and maintained the project's critical path schedule. The team's experience with deep secant pile shaft construction allowed for safe connection to undefined combination sewers without costly redesign.
