PM1 – Smith Creek Bridge NT

There were several constraints to be considered in this project for both the Stakeholder Consultation team as well as the Concept Design team.

Stakeholder interests were kept in mind every step of the way. This is seen through how initial engagement was used to refine the initial concept designs and address any concerns, and how these revised changes were reported back to the public for further consultation, detailed feedback, and engagement. After this, the final round of community meetings were to present the finalized designs that were to be sent to relevant regulatory authorities for project approval.

The Concept Design team used the project’s initial constraints of regulations and logistics to create the first conceptual designs. From there, additional constraints involving geotechnical, structural, and transportation aspects narrowed our scope, and other considerations helped iterate the design throughout the project, ultimately converging into our final design.

Our solution involves two noteworthy innovations within its design. The potential additions of catch-basins for rainwater, and the inclusion of multiple loading paths.

• The catch-basins assist in preventing contamination of the creek from improper drainage of the bridge deck,
• Multiple loading paths reduce the direct weight onto the primary supportive members, which enables this design to have the capacity for larger loads.

In creating our design solution, we ran multiple analyses of two distinct models to determine what would be the most effective solution. We came to the conclusion that while one design wasn’t superior to the other, we could incorporate advantageous elements from both in our final design – and created a beam based bridge.

Additionally, we discovered that we could re-use the existing abutments based on their good bill of health from the inspection report. Re-using these structures further reduces the amount of work required, while also reducing the cost of the project and aiding schedule reductions.

We evaluated our solution based on several criteria, while also weighing the benefits of the projects against its risks.

Both the Stakeholder Consultation team and the Concept Design team had a hand in creating the criteria that was used to evaluate the solution our team used. This criteria fell under the general goals of how it affected the local region environmentally, socially, and financially.

To summarize, this solution:

• Provided A Boost to the Local Economy
  • The new bridge will provide jobs to local companies as an employment opportunity, and will also connect tourists to the region.

• Is Environmentally Friendly
  • Newer materials will be more environmentally friendly. Increased climate change effects will be protected against, and monitoring to ensure the stream or surrounding area is not impacted negatively.

• Was Considered with Ample Consulting
  • Stakeholders will be consulted and engaged throughout the project through documents (such as our survey) as well as a presentation, which will help us build the bridge that the communities need.

Due to the remote location, one of the initial constraints that was identified was the logistical feasibility of the solution.

The highway is an unmarked gravel road that experiences elevation and alignment changes, and as such, the consideration for material transportation had to be made. Emphasis was given to designs and construction materials which presented the smallest possible volume. I.e., where smaller items could be transported to site and then assembled on-site. By doing so, smaller vehicles which could more easily navigate the road and region could be used. While this would result in potential cost increases, it was thought this would be offset by reduced mobilization and transportation costs.

Additionally, based on the site reports provided, it was determined that the existing abutments could be re-used for the upgraded structure (albeit with some strengthening and reinforcing). This would reduce the project timespan and cost; imperative for the road as the structure is the sole link between the communities to the rest of the region.