Laycock Park Sanitary Siphon
Client:
City of Calgary
Location:
Calgary, Alberta
Year:
2017
Project Scope
Whissell served as Prime Contractor for the Laycock Park Sanitary Siphon project, a technically demanding large-diameter siphon installation across Nose Creek in north Calgary. The project required the construction of an earth berm across an active waterway, complex bypass pumping operations, and a specialized heavy lift plan for a 90-metre steel pipe section.
- 1,650 m of 1,350 mm–1,650 mm diameter sanitary siphon installation across Nose Creek
- Earth berm construction across Nose Creek to enable in-stream work
- Bypass pumping system using three 10-inch pumps; temporary 1,200 mm emergency overflow pipe as backup
- Specialized lift plan for a 90 m long steel pipe section requiring custom rigging and crane configuration
- Coordination with adjacent feedermain infrastructure throughout construction
- Full site restoration and creek reinstatement upon completion
Challenge & Mitigation
Rising flow rates within Nose Creek during construction created dynamic conditions that required continuous monitoring and adjustment of the bypass pumping system to maintain controlled diversion. Working in close proximity to an existing feedermain throughout the siphon installation demanded precise excavation control and utility protection measures to avoid any disturbance to the live water transmission line. The 90-metre steel pipe section required a complex lift plan that was developed and reviewed prior to mobilization to ensure safe execution.
Value Add Solution
Whissell's proactive development of the emergency overflow contingency, a temporary 1,200 mm bypass pipe provided a critical safety net against unexpected flow surges during the creek diversion period. This redundancy measure protected both the construction program and downstream communities from the consequences of a bypass failure, demonstrating Whissell's commitment to risk-informed construction planning.
