Project Overview
The expansion of the Port Mann Bridge to a 10- lane structure, widening Highway 1, and upgrading the interchanges were made to reduce the area’s traffic congestion and improve air quality in the Vancouver area. This involved the installation of three large-diameter drainage culverts under Highway 1, which benefited the Latimer Creek and Leoran Brook Salmon Habitat Enhancement Culverts project and satisfied one of the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement (PMH1) goals, to protect and improve fish passage between habitats.
Challenges
• High traffic area
• Time sensitive
• Potential flooding
• Obstructing underground objects
• Strict line and grade tolerances
Solution
The production began once the native Coho
salmon and Cutthroat trout migrated to the ocean to
ensure they were not present during operation.
The first two culverts were installed from the
median of the highway, one facing north and one
facing south, crossing two lanes of traffic and on/
off ramps. The third culvert was just west of the first
site. Seeing as open-cut methods were not feasible
due to the required depth of 5-6m with strict line and
grade tolerances, Kamloops suggested the use of the
three-pass innovation, involving the combination of
an Akkerman 240A Pilot Tube Machine, auger-bore
rig and horizontal pile driving. The 240A GBM jacking
frame was mounted on the auger boring rig track,
the guidance system initiated and established the drive’s line and grade. The casing is able to follow
the auger-bore rig and install the final product pipe. A
SCCI S150 HPD was used as the last tool rather than
an auger-bore rig product pipe installation.
Two drivers were initiated from the shaft installed
in the highway’s median to drive north and the other
south. As the GBM jacking frame drove the pilot
tubes to meet tolerance 1,067mm weld-on reaming
head was welded on the last length of the pilot tube
to increase the diameter. As sections of the pilot
tubes, casings and augers were advanced, they were
removed simultaneously from the reception area.
Spoils were reversed to the launch shaft for dirt
bucket removal. Once completed the crew turned
all the equipment around to begin the second 52m
drive. The third shaft was initiated from the final
shaft, just west of the initial shaft, which extended
81m.
Outcome
Guided Boring provided accuracy to meet line and grade tolerances.
Guided pipe ramming proved to be simple cost effective solution.
Cobble and boulders were enveloped in casing during ramming process.
The City of Langley is looking forward to the return of the Coho salmon and Cutthroat trout to Latimer Creek and Leoran Brook.
