Shepard Cell 13 Construction
Client:
City of Calgary
Location:
Calgary, Alberta
Year:
2017-2018
Project Scope
The Shepard Cell 13 Construction project involved the development of a new landfill cell and the final grading of existing Cells 9 and 10 at the City of Calgary's Shepard Landfill. The scope included 284,000 cubic metres of common excavation, 81,000 cubic metres of clay liner construction, 78,000 square metres of geomembrane installation, 76,000 square metres of geocomposite membrane application, and the construction of a complete leachate collection system, along with the capping of existing landfill cells.
- 284,000 m³ of common excavation for new landfill cell development
- 81,000 m³ of clay liner construction; 78,000 m² of geomembrane installation
- 76,000 m² of geocomposite membrane application
- Complete leachate collection system construction
- Final grading and capping of existing Cells 9 and 10
Challenge & Mitigation
Achieving the required clay liner compaction and continuity across a large cell footprint while managing the moisture sensitivity of the clay material through variable Alberta weather conditions was the central technical challenge. Whissell's team implemented a clay placement and compaction protocol that included moisture conditioning of incoming material, lift thickness control, and continuous nuclear density testing to confirm that each lift met the hydraulic conductivity specification before the next was placed.
Value Add Solution
Whissell's disciplined quality control approach ensured that the liner system met regulatory requirements without requiring rework, keeping the project on schedule, and protecting the City of Calgary's long-term environmental containment investment. This project reinforced Whissell's position as one of Alberta's most experienced landfill cell construction contractors, with a track record spanning multiple cells across Calgary's major waste management facilities.
