Abstract:
Most foundation projects have the benefit of fairly consistent subsurface conditions. By default, they also require fairly simplistic geotechnical investigations. In the electric power industry, with long, linear projects often spanning hundreds of miles, these programs become much more comprehensive and are crucial to reducing overall risk, but conducting them in advance of construction is often a challenge.
The proposed presentation will detail the design and construction of driven piles, drilled piers, helical piles and grout anchors installed on the Fort McMurray West Transmission Project (WFMAC) in Northern Alberta, Canada. The combination of foundation types was needed to accommodate vastly differing subsurface conditions for the nearly 1,400 planned structures on the 310-mile alignment. Short construction windows and a lack of subsurface information during the design phase led to a detailed geotechnical investigation being conducted concurrent to foundation construction.