Tackling Canada’s largest road project

Highway widening and reconfiguring of junctions are geared to meet traffic needs forecast to 2031

Vancouver’s CA$2.46 billion Port Mann/Highway 1 upgrade programme calls on a wide range of Hatch Mott MacDonald’s engineering and management skills.

(Article taken from our customer magazine, Momentum)

Geotechnical conditions are soft and challenging

To tackle congestion on Vancouver’s principal highway, the Province of British Columbia is undertaking a road improvement, widening and reconstruction project of enormous scale. The five year, CA$2.46 billion Port Mann/Highway 1 programme includes:

• A new 10 lane toll bridge across the Fraser River
• 37km of highway widening involving 1,500,000 square metres of new pavement and 800,000 square metres of overlay
• Reconstruction of 11 interchanges
• 34 onshore bridges and rehabilitation of a further eight
• Construction of 21 lightweight fill embankments and 85 retaining walls
• Construction of 250 culverts
• Environmental compensation/enhancements
• New signage and traffic management systems

Spread over 37km, the mega project is being undertaken by design-build contractor Kiewit/Flatiron General Partnership, with Hatch Mott MacDonald leading design of onshore works as senior partner in H5M, a joint venture with MMM Group.

“When the highway was built in the 1950s and 60s nobody could have anticipated today’s volumes of traffic,” comments Hatch Mott MacDonald project manager Chris Mealing. The route is used by local traffic and also forms part of Canada’s main east coast–west coast route. “It’s at capacity and congested for 13 hours a day.”

Existing lanes for high occupancy vehicles will be supplemented and connected to feeder routes by designated slip roads. Commercial vehicles will be given priority access to highway on-ramps at a number of key junctions. Increased road capacity will be complemented by improved traffic management, with variable message signs informing drivers’ decision making. Cyclists will benefit from improvements to the bike network.

Every kilometre of the corridor has been subjected to traffic micro-simulation modelling to optimise its performance, eliminate dangerous driver behaviour and improve access and egress routes. A single, integrated virtual design model for the transport corridor has been developed.

This enables the design to be easily visualised, helping with the detection and rectification of potential conflicts. The single design model is also helping the contractor to resolve issues associated with constructability, as well as assisting with quantity surveying, cost control and sustainability – for example, care is being taken to balance the quantities of cut and fill to minimise waste.

“Though some existing structures are being rehabilitated, a combination of increased traffic demand, the need for greater physical clearances and high seismic performance demands means that most structures are being replaced,” Chris says. One of the landmark elements of the project is the total reconstruction of the complex Cape Horn/Lougheed highway interchange at the west end of the Port Mann Bridge.

Geotechnical conditions are soft and challenging. To prevent liquefaction during earthquakes and to mitigate settlement, various ground improvement methods are being used. All structures are being designed to meet stringent seismic performance requirements, involving specified damage and service performance at four distinct earthquake levels.

Adding further complexity, Kiewit/Flatiron must maintain existing traffic flow and volume while work is under way. Close co-operation with all parts of the delivery team and rigorous management systems underpin delivery. Construction started in 2009, completion is due in 2014.

How Hatch Mott MacDonald is making a difference

Sophisticated simulation and analysis of the entire route has been used to optimise traffic flow and beat congestion

Working with the contractor, Hatch Mott MacDonald is helping programme construction work to maintain traffic flow and volume

Client: Province of British Columbia