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Arctic Construction Projects

Feb 23, 2015
Below is a sample of recent arctic, sub-arctic and winter construction projects successfully delivered by Valard.



 
Nunavut Distribution Rebuild
 
Valard is currently rebuilding the distribution system of the capital of Canada’s newest northern territory, Iqaluit, Nunavut. Iqaluit is located on the south coast of Baffin Island, in the Everett Mountains rising from an inlet of Frobisher Bay, northeast of Hudson Bay. Above the tree line, Iqaluit has a typically arctic climate and permanently frozen soil. Map
 
Construction on the 25-kV construction project was set to begin in spring 2011, but a much colder than expected winter caused a considerable delay since all materials and equipment needed to be barged onto site and transport waters remained frozen until July. Despite the unpredictable weather, crews were still able to complete 50 percent of the total project in the first construction season. Crews are tentatively scheduled to pick up the work in early May 2012, weather permitting. 
 
Client: Qulliq Energy 
Location: Iqaluit, Nunavut 
Dates: 2011 to 2012 
Services: Construction 

 
Northeast Transmission Loop
 
Valard crews again set off for the farthest reaches of northern Alberta in the winter of 2012, this time to build the Northeast Transmission Loop project. The 240-kV transmission line ran 85 km from Salt Creek substation, just south of Fort McMurray to Blackfly substation, near Fort McKay on the 57th parallel north. Map
 
Construction took place under frozen ground conditions, in thick boreal forest and with frigid temperatures that required extra efforts for workforce safety and equipment protection.
 
Valard transmission crews were joined by “exchange workers” from Norway’s Stange Energi*, as well as trainees from Poland and First Nation contractors from neighbouring British Columbia. More than 230 people were engaged in total, building 234 heavy towers (weighing between 32,000 and 166,000 lbs) in just 85 days and installing the electrical portion of the Salt Creek substation. 
 
*The experiences of the Norwegian workers were reported on in a local paper when they returned home. Read the article in Norwegian or English. 
 
Client: ATCO Electric 
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta 
Dates: Winter 2012 
Services: Construction

 
Wesley Creek to Meikle Transmission Project
 
Valard constructed this transmission project from January to September 2010 in the Peace River area of northwestern Alberta. Map The project consisted of constructing 82 km of 230-kV double-circuit transmission line and two-bundle Hawk ACSR. 
 
Valard had to overcome several logistical difficulties to successfully construct 55 km of the line over an 84-day winter work window. This portion of the project went through environmentally sensitive areas, with wetland habitats, lakes and sloughs used by migrating and resident waterfowls for nesting, as well as a host of other land and water animals. 
 
The balance of the line was completed with a smaller crew following a two-month hiatus for spring break-up and 
de-thaw. The project was successfully completed on budget, on time and without incident as a joint venture with the Woodland Cree First Nation.
 
Wesley Creek to Meikle was the second phase of transmission development the client was undertaking in the northern corners of Alberta. Valard also worked on the first phase, the Brintnell to Wesley Creek Line, in 2009. There, the company constructed 89 km of 230-kV transmission line, consisting of 16 lattice towers and 307 steel pole H-frames, in just two months.
 
Client: ATCO Electric 
Location: Peace River, Alberta 
Dates: January to September 2010
Services: Construction

 
Herblet to Ralls Island Project
 
The sub-arctic area of Manitoba was the scene for the Herblet to Ralls Island project. Valard was contracted to build 168 km of 230-kV single-circuit transmission line in the Le Pas area. Map
 
Construction was scheduled from December to March 2009 and 2010. So much of winter construction depends on weather, and weather was most definitely not on the side of this project, creating unpredictable difficulties time and again. A very mild winter during the first construction season caused a weak freeze-up of the soil, which crews were relying on to overcome the boggy and swampy terrain. By mid-winter, the freeze-up was gone and major melts caused considerable problems for equipment and right-of-way access. Then, severe blizzards hit and buried access roads, equipment and materials in deep snow.
 
The topography on this project was unforgiving. The line spanned over wetland and Canadian Shield rock. Access proved difficult, as swamps in some areas ran up to 12 km long and 18 m deep. A combination of challenging foundations and specialized foundation equipment was required to get through the swamp and drill into the stubborn rock bed below. In addition, Valard set 145 structures by helicopter in order to successfully meet the project’s tight schedule.
 
Had it not been for Valard’s extensive experience with sub-arctic construction, this project would not have been completed in time. Despite the tribulations, the company delivered the project on schedule, on budget and without incident.
 
Client: Manitoba Hydro 
Location: The Pas, Manitoba 
Dates: December to March 2009 and 2010 
Services: Construction

 
Carmacks to Stewart Transmission Line Phase I and II 
 
For this project, Valard headed north of the 64th parallel to the Klondike Region of the Yukon Territories, just east of the Alaska border. The area’s climate is severe and intense cold and snowstorms prevail for seven months of the year, precipitating the need for Valard to construct the project during the extremely short summer season. Map
 
In Phase I of the project, the company constructed 100 km of 138-kV transmission line and 30 km of 25-kV distribution line to the Minto Mine. This involved a 450 m crossing over the Yukon River and a 650 m crossing of Tatchun Creek. The project was constructed under a five-way joint venture agreement with three local First Nations communities and a local contractor. In Phase II, Valard battled through permafrost terrain to construct an additional 67 km of 138-kV line under a joint venture with the Woodland Cree First Nation.
 
The project was logistically challenging due to the extreme geographical remoteness of the work. Materials were transported by barge from Seattle to Skagway, on the same route as the Klondike gold rush. Worker camps, equipment yards and materials were all positioned in the winter during temperatures that reached -55 C. Mobilization was slow, with each truck and piece of equipment requiring at least a three day’s drive to arrive. The entirety of the northern section of the line was installed under permafrost conditions, with special environmental mitigation efforts taken to preserve subterranean ice and prevent surface collapse. In addition, 22 structures were in an environmentally sensitive area that required any excavation to be done by hand in permanently frozen ground.
 
Client: Yukon Energy Corporation 
Location: Klondike Region, Yukon 
Dates: March to September 2008 
Services: Procurement, Construction

 
De Beers Victor Mine 
 
Valard was contracted to provide engineering, procurement and construction activities on the De Beers Victor Mine site on the James Bay lowlands, near Hudson Bay. Map 
 
Over two winter construction seasons, the company built 420 km of 115-kV transmission line over difficult terrain from Otter Rapids to the mine site, as well as three 115-kV substations and 270 km of fibre optic cable. The fibre cable tied the First Nation communities of Attawapiskat and Kashchewan together and required Valard to open 100 km of new access. At the time of award, the project was considered the largest power line EPC contract in Canada. It involved the installation of 2,400 wood structures and 12 steel towers.
 
Valard worked through hundreds of kilometres of frozen muskeg bog and tundra lowlands in a very isolated area of northern Ontario. Winter construction was a necessity on this otherwise swampy, waterlogged terrain. During construction, crews had to contend with bone-chilling temperatures (sometimes as low as -40 C), fierce wind and short sunlight hours, as is normal in this region.
 
The remoteness of the site and short winter construction period meant all materials and equipment had to be transported by barge in the summer months. An unexpected delay occurred when a sudden north wind blew a large amount of water out from the James Bay and the tugboat pulling the barge became stuck on a sandbar. Valard had to wait until the wind changed a few days later for the waters to return and the boat to be back afloat. The company also carefully coordinated rail and helicopter mobilization, and built a public-use ice road linking the isolated northern communities to the Ontario highway system. 
 
Despite significant logistical challenges, Valard delivered the project effectively on time, on budget and without safety incident. The company also built excellent relationships and successful working partnerships with the five neighbouring First Nations communities.
 
Client: De Beers 
Location: Northern Ontario 
Dates: 2006 to 2007 
Services: Engineering, Procurement, Construction

 
Dover to Whitefish Transmission Project
 
In 2004, Valard was awarded this major transmission line and substation in the Fort McMurray region in northern Alberta, around the 56th parallel north. Map It was one of the largest high voltage power transmission lines in Alberta at the time. 
 
Aside from the greenfield construction of a 240-kV substation, Valard constructed 170 km of 230-kV transmission line, including 151 steel lattice towers and 550 steel H-frames. This project involved several major river crossings including installing 280-ft towers through the Athabasca River. A named Canadian Heritage River, the Athabasca flows through ice fields and gorges and has extensive wildlife habitat on its shores and adjacent marshes.
 
The Dover to Whitefish project required difficult winter construction over extensive muskeg, bogs, creeks and rivers. The project was hampered by limited access, uneven terrain and diverse soil conditions. The location was extremely remote, so Valard brought to site portable camps and equipment shops. These company-owned mobile buildings were heated with diesel-fired generators and large supplies of fuel as well as back-up generators were kept on hand to ensure worker safety, as temperatures were as cold as -40 C. Equipment was also placed strategically along the line to maximize efficiency and access. 
 
Valard employed accelerated construction methods to meet the aggressive schedule of the project and completed the line in less than four months. After its successful completion, the project was awarded an international Edison Award, the industry’s most prestigious honour, for “the speed and quality of the work.” 
 
Valard has considerable experience working in this particular terrain. Other major successes in the Fort McMurray area include the CNRL Horizon Oil Sands, Suncor Energy Firebag and Kearl Oil Sands transmission projects. 
 
Client: ATCO Electric 
Location: Fort McMurray region, Alberta 
Dates: 2004 
Services: Construction

Source: http://www.valard.com/PROJECTS/ArcticConstruction.aspx

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