ICS Cell 8
Client:
City of Lethbridge
Location:
Lethbridge, Alberta
Year:
2025
Project Scope
Whissell served as Prime Contractor for the ICS (Industrial Contaminated Soils) Cell 8 project at the City of Lethbridge landfill a new purpose-built cell for the containment of industrial contaminated soils. The project involved large-scale excavation, clay liner construction, geomembrane installation, and a complete leachate collection system, all executed to stringent environmental and geotechnical specifications.
Scope:
- 325,000 m³ of common excavation, topsoil stripping, and stockpiling
- Compacted clay liner construction to specification
- Geomembrane liner installation across the full cell footprint
- Base course and drain aggregate placement
- Supply and installation of 600 mm leachate pipe, 200 mm collection pipe, and 150 mm force main with pump
- All works executed in compliance with City of Lethbridge environmental and regulatory requirements
Challenge & Mitigation
The scale of the excavation 325,000 m³ combined with the stringent clay liner compaction and geomembrane installation specifications required meticulous quality management throughout the construction program. Achieving the required clay liner moisture and density specifications consistently across a large cell footprint demanded careful material conditioning and continuous geotechnical monitoring. Whissell's Lethbridge-based team drew on lessons learned from previous landfill cell construction projects for the City of Lethbridge, including Cells 5B and 7, to anticipate and manage these quality challenges proactively.
Value Add Solution
Whissell proposed pre-fusing the majority of the HDPE gas collection system components including straight runs, elbows, and collars prior to trenching, allowing for a streamlined installation process once excavation was complete. This approach reduced field installation time, improved fusion quality through controlled off-site conditions, and minimized trench congestion, safety risks, and weather-related delays. A drone-based survey system was also deployed to provide real-time visual progress updates and enhanced quantity tracking for the City.
