March 7, 2019
Large, multi-tiered solution only one of its type east of the Rockies
As Canadian urban infrastructure projects go, they don’t get much bigger or more complex than the Montreal’s Turcot Interchange re-build led by the design-build consortium of KPH-Turcot for the Ministère des Transports Québec (MTQ). It’s a multi-year, $1.5 billion effort to dismantle and rebuild the three-level-stack interchange linking Autoroutes 15, 20, and 720, and providing access to the Champlain Bridge via the Décarie South Expressway.
An earlier stage contract just east of the interchange involved roadway realignments with a significant change to a steep embankment along Rue Pullman. AIL is very proud to have been selected to design and supply our MSE Retaining Wall System for this multi-tiered solution — the only one of its type east of the Rockies.
Our six-wall project featured 3 m x 1.5 m precast panels in eight different horizontal pattern configurations. The larger size panels required extra care in shipping and handling. A specialized, anti-graffiti coating was applied by others after installation.
Due to the complexity of the project, we partnered with Thurber Engineering on the design and engineering. Part of their solution involved drilled soil nailing on embankment areas surrounding our walls.
There were several challenges that impacted the schedule of the project:
- Gaining MTQ approval on soil nailing
- Mid-project design modifications to accommodate increased loading for the assembly and launch sequence of the Rue St. Jacques bridge on top
- Schedule interruption for the bridge assembly and launch
Delays caused by the above challenges on our contract resulted in some schedule overlap with the main interchange work just west of our site. Our strong, collaborative working relationship with the contractor, L.A. Hébert, was a huge plus in helping us work with MTQ and KPH-Turcot to navigate through the necessary design and schedule adjustments.
Challenges aside, we are very proud to see AIL’s Precast Panel Walls standing proud along AutoRoute 20 and we look forward to the completion of the overall Turcot project in 2020.
