2021 Award for Bridges and Structures

The nominees for the 2021 Award of Excellence for Bridges and Structures are:

S. Young Enterprises Ltd.

• Project: Good Bridge Replacement
• Location: On Cecil Lake Road approximately 45 kilometres East of Fort St. John
• Contract Amount: $4.4 million

S. Young Enterprises Ltd. is a general contractor serving the North Peace region from its head office in Fort St. John. This project involved replacing the Good Bridge with a 42-metre clear spans steel girder on concrete piles. The new Good Bridge was composed of cast in place concrete deck and abutment, steel girders, steel pipe pile foundations and reinforced with rip rap.

S. Young Enterprises Ltd. invested in a bridge-deck machine to increase its capacity on this project. It worked with utilities companies to have relocation and power drop installed, which were critical for detour construction.

S. Young Enterprises communicated all concerns to the ministry that were raised by local farmers regarding the detour and the impact to their operations during the season. In response to the farmers’ concerns, changes were made to the detour bridge to accommodate their need for further lane width.

S. Young Enterprises Ltd. worked with Ministry Representative Richard Fairservice and Project Manager Adriana da Costa to ensure the project was completed on budget and on time.

Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd.

• Project: Cortiana Bridge
• Location: Highway 6, approximately 33 km west of Needles Ferry
• Contract Amount: $3.8 million

The Cortiana Bridge project included the construction of a two-lane, 10-metre-span bridge with rock-anchored spread-footings to replace existing culverts. The project also included the reconstruction of approaches, the supply and installation of a 43-metre-long detour bridge and stream channelization works. The location of the bridge on Highway 6 in the Monashee Mountains presented challenges for delivery of items including concrete, girders, and cranes.

Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd. adapted its work system to address stakeholders’ concerns and changes to the project environment. It worked with Assuage Environmental and were innovative in its handling of the creek flow during winter, using a system of heaters and 900 millimetre pipes to effectively maintain flow with minimal issues. Its system of handling water in winter conditions was effective and impressive. Coquitlam Ridge Constructors completed the retaining wall backfill works in winter using a blast rock winter fill, which allowed it to complete in-stream works at low flow level.

Delays caused by record-high water flows forced the project into a seasonal shutdown, requiring additional mobilization to complete the works in the spring. Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd.  navigated difficulties during instream construction, unexpected geotechnical conditions and a site configuration adjacent to stakeholders.

Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd. worked with Ministry Representative Robert Smith and Project Manager Spencer Holden to accomplish the successful completion of the Cortiana Bridge.

Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd.

• Project: Cortiana Bridge
• Location: Highway 6, approximately 33 km west of Needles Ferry
• Contract Amount: $3.8 million