Abstract Manager

The Alaska Highway (Hwy 97) is an important corridor in the Province of BC for private and commercial traffic, being the primary connection to Yukon and Alaska. Public Service Procurement Canada (PSPC) is responsible for approximately 835 km of the highway north of Fort St. John (km 133) to the Yukon Border near Watson Lake (km 968). Similar to many other highways, aging infrastructure is in need of more frequent rehabilitation, which is being compounded by the increasing effects of climate change on geohazards that can negatively impact infrastructure. A recent washout of the Alaska Highway at km 897, and widespread catastrophic flooding in the lower mainland of BC in 2021 highlight the need for more resilient design practices.

Infrastructure in general is at increasing risk, and watercourse crossings are perhaps one of the most vulnerable in a changing climate when flooding and other geohazards are increasing in severity. With the demand rising for watercourse planning and management, improvements to the asset management and design processes will be important for efficient adaptation and the long-term function of the Highway. This presentation focuses on the fundamental aspects of watercourse design with a goal of making practical improvements, looking at design processes and standards, and how they can feed into customized and climate resilient design criteria by proposing a practical framework for design-criteria development screening.