Abstract Manager

On November 14 and 15, 2021, an “atmospheric river” saturated the southwestern region of British Columbia. This caused damage to 260 sites within the Ministry’s highway network including Tank Hill on Highway 1 near Lytton. A debris torrent washed mud and trees down the canyon of Tank Hill Creek, eliminating a portion of Highway 1 and CP railway at Mile 87.03. Highway 1 at this location had been grade-separated from the railway, conveying vehicle traffic below using a concrete bridge structure – this entire infrastructure was damaged beyond repair for re-use.

Within five days of the event, CP Rail re-constructed the railway with a new alignment. By agreement with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI), CP Rail took the lead in contracting and designated AECOM as the lead Engineering firm for the reconstruction efforts, with both organizations collaborating for the overall re-construction.

The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure directed the team that the current re-construction would be a temporary measure only. MoTI and CP Rail also collaborated on a joint effort to advance design and construction of a permanent infrastructure that will include a grade-separated crossing.

CP established a command post on site on November 16^th and AECOM assigned staff to the site by November 22, 2021– to provide onsite engineering and inspection services. AECOM assigned a design team to immediately prepare a highway alignment for the highway. Within 3 days, AECOM provided two preliminary highway design options and the detailed design including alignment, geotechnical engineering, traffic engineering including slope stability, signal pre-emption timing, hydrology and drainage design, and onsite inspection services.

The project called for a new at-grade crossing that required alignment to meet American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and BC MoTI standards. This included installation of new crossing gates and flashing beacons. Furthermore, new three-colour highway traffic signals were installed, and timing of the signals was calculated to provide safe pre-emption. The downhill approach grade required 1.3 km advance traffic signals, while the uphill approach grade called for a 400-metre advance traffic signal.

This project was awarded the ACEC-BC 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Award and the 2022 Award of Excellence.