Engineering Services for Bridges and Tunnels - · PDF file CIMA+, spanning Canada from BC to Quebec CIMA+ is a Canadian company specializing in engineering, project management, new

Engineering Services for

Bridges and Tunnels

www.cima.ca

CIMA+, spanning Canada from BC to Quebec

CIMA+ is a Canadian company specializing in engineering, project management, new technologies, urban planning and the environment.

More than half of the company’s approximately 2,000 employees are part owners of the firm, which makes all the difference in their passion for

their work and the excellence of services we provide our clients.

CIMA+ has 40 offices across Canada and abroad. We offer consulting services of the highest caliber thanks to the skills of

our personnel and their familiarity with local issues and their dynamics.

Since 2011, CIMA+ has been rated the fourth best employer in Canada  – ranking first among engineering com-panies – according to the human resources firm Aon Hewitt.

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CIMA+ has built an enviable reputation in bridge and infrastructure engineering, with several of our projects having won awards and distinctions over the years. Such accomplishments can only be explained by our setting the highest standards of excellence. We strive to continuously renew our expertise, which entails recruiting the best in their field, and investing in employee training, in innovation, and in research and development.

Our Bridge Engineering team is among the largest in Canada with 125 specialists, including 78 engineers and 47 technicians. A third of our engineers have graduate degrees, in particular 8 with Ph.Ds. and 18 with a Master’s degree. Many are leading experts in their field. They bring specialized knowledge to complex projects and help to train the next generation of professionals. Our team is also regularly sent to work with experts throughout Canada and in other countries to enhance their expertise.

CIMA+ encourages staff to acquire additional skills and certifications in their sectors of expertise by:

+ learning about new materials and ways of integrating sustainable development;

+ keeping updated with design codes;

+ participating in university research chairs.

Benchmarking is another tool that we use to remain at the forefront. By identifying the best practices, and then adapting them to the Canadian environment, we are constantly innovating. Throughout the years, CIMA+ has also greatly invested in the development of proprietary tools and software.

CIMA+ Partners in excellence

CIMA+ offers constantly updated expertise in bridge engineering

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CIMA+, your partner through the different steps of the life cycleCIMA+ provides diversified and complete services for existing and new structures, such as bridges, interchanges, culverts, pedestrian and bicycle overpasses, overhead signage support systems and street lighting, including:

+ planning and design using specialized software and cutting-edge techniques;

+ services provided during construction;

+ field inspections and studies;

+ decommissioning.

On the following pages, you will find a few of our projects illustrating the breadth and diversity of our expertise in bridge engineering.

Combining design and sustainability

CIMA+ designed three timber arch bridges made of eastern spruce which originated in a forest that is managed responsibly according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. Favouring a timber structure allowed for a 44% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to a conventional structure), which were offset by the planting of more than 2,600 trees in the Montmorency Forest.

Innovative design at lower costs

The recipient of numerous awards, this bridge built in Stoneham, Quebec, combines refined aesthetics and reduced costs through the use of reinforced concrete rather than steel. The main load-bearing elements of the structure are two parabolic arches whereas the deck is formed by a system of crossbeams, in contrast to conventional bridges where longitudinal beams support the deck.

3CIMA+ Partners in excellence

Designing bridges

Seismic design

The seismic calculations required by current standards are a very important aspect of bridge design. The choice of structural systems and the dimensions of the foundation elements are often dictated by seismic requirements. Given the recent progress in seismic analysis and the resulting regulatory provisions, in-depth knowledge of seismic design has become increasingly essential for proper application of these requirements.

CIMA+ is well aware of the importance of the seismic aspects of bridge design. In fact, our Transportation / Bridges team has always given the computational work of seismic design the time and effort it merits. Our engineers derive their in-depth expertise from:

+ a thorough understanding of design standards and their development, including seismic requirements (force-based design, performance-based design);

+ a proficiency in using analytical methods and tools (pushover analysis, nonlinear time history analysis, soil-structure interaction); and

+ a broad experience gained by carrying out numerous studies.

Our team can tackle the most complex projects with rigour and clarity, always bearing in mind cost considerations and improved performance. This meticulous approach has earned CIMA+’s Transportation/Bridges team an excellent reputation among its partners.

CIMA+ won multiple engineering awards in 2011 for the design of the Petite-Nation river bridge, in the Gatineau region. The 304 meter long bridge – meeting a “lifeline” seismic category - spans a deep and wide valley. Its design met a number of challenges due to the rugged terrain and variability of bedrock. Environmental impact was minimized, as there was no building in the river below.

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Ongoing studies and evaluations

CIMA+ is regularly brought in to carry out preparatory studies for bridge rehabilitation or construction, including pre-project studies and assessments of bearing capacity and seismic load resistance of structural members.

CIMA+ was chosen, along with other engineering firms, to conduct the pre-feasibility study of the new bridge over the St. Lawrence River which will replace the Champlain Bridge. To develop the concept of the new bridge, CIMA+ worked with Michel Virlogeux, the world renowned French engineer who designed the Millau Viaduct with architect Norman Foster. (One of the concepts is shown above.)

CIMA+ studied the feasibility of implementing a light-rail transit system (LRT) to transport Trudeau Airport passengers to downtown Montreal. A part of the infrastructure would serve as an above-ground metro for residents.

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5CIMA+ Partners in excellence

Planning and studies

Heavy load evaluations

CIMA+ is heavily involved in bridge load evaluations for major heavy haul companies within Alberta, British Columbia and the United States.

In Northern Alberta, the oil sands are an important revenue provider for the province. Many oil companies in this region are expanding and / or upgrading their plants to produce more oil. Due to the expansion of oil plants, exceptionally large and heavy pieces of equipment are being transported by heavy haul companies to Northern Alberta. The specified heavy haul route within Alberta is the main transport corridor for heavy loads. Due to the size of these “superloads” ranging from 400 to 1,150 metric tonnes (GVW), bridges along the proposed heavy haul route require load capacity evaluations. Structures on the heavy haul route include major steel girder bridges across the North Saskatchewan and Athabasca River, prestressed concrete girder bridges on concrete substructures, and precast concrete girder bridges on timber substructures.

Our Transportation / Bridges team has the knowledge and experience to address the challenges posed by heavy load transportation. For our clients, especially in the Oil & Gas industry, we evaluate and analyze the current conditions of the bridges to ensure they have adequate capacity to carry the proposed “superloads”.

CIMA+ is currently involved in many bridge load evaluation and monitoring projects for heavy load transport, or “superloads,” in Canada and the United States.

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Restoring an 80-year-old bridge

CIMA+ received an engineering award for a major reconstruction project on the Viau Bridge, a heritage structure with concrete arches used by over 30,000 vehicles and 1,000 pedestrians and cyclists every day. As part of a consortium, CIMA+ carried out the preliminary studies, prepared the plans and specifications, and handled construction supervision for the complete replacement of approach structures, replacement and expansion of the roadway, elimination of spans, repair of the concrete arches and maintenance of pedestrian and road traffic during construction. Preserving and showcasing the heritage character of the bridge was taken into consideration, particularly by installing streetlights similar to the originals and highlighting the arches.

CIMA+ Partners in excellence 7

Provision of services during construction

CIMA+ provides services during the construction phase to ensure compliance in the implementation of plans and specifications. The experience of our engineers, technicians and other professionals is a clear asset when it comes to providing sound advice to clients and ensuring that the project runs smoothly.

While overseeing the construction work, our experts can:

+ anticipate potential problems and propose sustainable solutions at the right time during implementation of the project;

+ provide the necessary clarifications regarding administrative management of construction contracts in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations; and

+ manage major risks to minimize the social, economic and environmental impacts of the project.Construction in remote areas

CIMA+ designed two parallel railway bridges, each 22.85 metres long and 3.7 metres wide, for the new Highway 500 underpass between Wabush and Labrador City. Two reinforced concrete abutments almost ten metres in height were constructed, but due to the highly variable soil conditions, one is seated on bedrock using micropiles and the other is supported by driven HP piles. This project is an excellent example of the adaptability and innovative work of our designers.

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Provision of services during construction

Traffic mitigation during construction

CIMA+ develops solutions to minimize the impact of bridge construction on people’s movements, particularly by scheduling some work during the night. Traffic maintenance was an important issue during reconstruction of a major interchange in Montreal connecting two main highways with traffic densities among the highest in Canada. The girders were delivered to the site on three different nights. Ten cranes – including one of the largest hydraulic cranes in the world which carried the heaviest section weighing 60 tonnes on a boom extension of 90 metres, – lifted and assembled all five sections of the horizontally curved box girders without any temporary supports – all in a single night.

CIMA+ Partners in excellence 9

Inspection and rehabilitationInspection is a critical step in preserving bridge integrity and ensuring user safety. It consists of a rigorous assessment of all the elements to identify structural defects and damage to the materials, determine the extent of any problems and evaluate the work to be carried out. An instrumentation program, including data acquisition through 3D scanning, makes it possible to precisely determine the state of stress. Various analyses can then be performed on the models of existing structures to manage the risks associated with fatigue damage and establish a schedule for the remedial measures to be carried out.

Various inspection methods

Site investigations can be conducted using a number of visual and manual methods including inspection by rope access or by aerial manlift. Used mainly for truss structures – including deck truss or pony truss bridges, covered bridges, arch bridges and steel-wood bridges – inspection by rope access involves installing temporary steel cables under the bridge to which the inspectors can attach their harnesses, similar to the systems used by mountain climbers.

Inspection of a high-intensity traffic interchange using aerial manlift equipment

Inspection of the old Quebec Bridge using rope access system

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Upgrading of railway bridges

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation mandated CIMA+ to conduct the preparatory study, inspect the steel decks, and determine the extent of fatigue damage of railway bridges 7A and 7B, located in Kahnawake, on the double track of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). The evaluation was carried out according to the 2013 manual of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).

Making a downtown interchange safer

As part of a consortium, CIMA+ maintains the Turcot Interchange, a critical infrastructure that includes 35 ramps and over 18 kilometres of overpasses and bridges. A risk analysis and instrumentation program was established to ensure that the structures remain functional until the planned reconstruction in 2017. CIMA+ inspects the structures and makes them secure, a challenging proposition given the traffic density (290,000 vehicles daily), the location in downtown Montreal, the parallel reconstruction work and the need to maintain good traffic flow, as well as facing multiple health and safety issues (i.e. working at heights using manlifts, working in confined spaces, close to contaminants and railways).

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Inspection and rehabilitation

Seismic retrofitting of the existing structures

The rehabilitation of the Cartier-MacDonald bridge in the Gatineau-Ottawa region was challenging given the extensive underside deterioration of the existing deck which was noted during inspections from 2001 to 2011. Work performed by CIMA+, as part of a joint venture, included both a restoration of the structural integrity to keep the bridge in repair free condition until 2030-2033, and a seismic retrofit of the structure to meet CHBDC lifeline classification.

An active team in Western Canada

CIMA+ started conducting on-site inspections of four bridges in Calgary, Alberta, in 2014. Our mandate also includes providing the detailed design of the repairs to be undertaken, the engineering drawings for the tender package in accordance with the city’s guidelines, and construction oversight.

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Managing the old and the new simultaneously

At almost 100 years old, the Terrebonne Bridge needed to be replaced by a new bridge that complies with current seismic standards. To limit the impact on people and traffic, demolition and construction were managed concurrently. This multidisciplinary project required sophisticated traffic management, well-controlled demolition techniques, and optimized work sequences, all while limiting environmental and noise impacts.

13CIMA+ Partners in excellence

Decommissioning

Accelerated demolition

Having reached the end of its useful life, the overpass over Highway 20 in the town of Sainte-Julie, Quebec, was demolished in a single night. Using a fast-track approach, the new overpass was constructed in just 14 weeks (instead of the 24 weeks needed for conventional methods). This approach – optimized, recommended and carried out by the CIMA+ team – helped significantly reduce the impacts on residents and road traffic.

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CIMA+ Partners in excellence 15

Alternative construction delivery methods

In recent years, we have seen the emergence of alternative construction delivery methods, which rearrange the roles and relationships we have become accustomed to in the conventional design-bid-build scheme. The most well-known models, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and the Design-Build (DB), are similar for the fact that in both cases, the owner retains one single entity for the design, construction, and engineering. In the case of PPP projects, responsibilities extend beyond these phases to include, either or both, the financing and the maintenance of the bridge.

CIMA+’s reputation for rigour and innovation, and the diversity of our expertise have enabled us to participate in many such alternative construction projects, taking on the following responsibilities:

+ produce feasibility and environmental studies;

+ overview public consultations;

+ collaborate in business plans and reference projects that define constraints, challenges, technical specifications and performance evaluations;

+ implement auditing programs during the design and construction phases, as well as the maintenance phase in the case of PPP projects.

CIMA+ acted as the consulting engineering firm for the construction of a bridge on Highway  25 in Quebec, linking Montreal with Laval, its north-shore suburb. For this Public-Private Partnership project, which was delivered on time and under budget, CIMA+ was responsible for developing business plans, feasibility studies, and technical and performance specifications.

BONAVENTURE

LIONEL-GROULX

ATWATER

PLACE SAINT-HENRY

GREENMETRO LINE

ORANGEMETRO LINE

ORANGEMETRO LINE

PROPOSED STATION

PROPOSED STATION

PROPOSED STATION

LIONEL-GROULXSTATION

START OF TUNNEL 0 + 980 END OF TUNNEL 4 + 4201 + 300

PROPOSED STATION

OPEN CUT SECTION ROCK SECTION

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Improving traffic management

CIMA+ managed and supervised the construction of the control room which oversees the entire road network of metropolitan Montreal, including the Ville-Marie and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine tunnels. This installation makes it possible to monitor traffic circulation in real time, ensuring rapid assessment of the systems and interfaces.

Designing a rapid rail link to downtown Montreal

CIMA+ designed a portion of the tunnel to be built in the rock underlying downtown Montreal as part of the feasibility study for the proposed Montreal-Trudeau airport light rail system (LRT). This study proposed an efficient path of the rail link with the addition of a connecting station to the existing subway network. An evaluation of the constructability of the tunnel section was also included.

CIMA+ Partners in excellence

Our expertise in tunnel engineering

CIMA+’s expertise in tunnel engineering is increasingly recognized interna-tionally. We provide a range of services covering all phases of the tunnel’s life cycle, including bored, immersed and cut-and-cover tunnels:

+ Feasibility studies for construction of new tunnels (road and LRT)

+ Inspection of existing tunnels and diagnosis of any deficiencies

+ Feasibility studies for upgrades of existing tunnels

+ Design and supervision of structural and multidisciplinary restoration work

+ Improvement of control and telecommunications systems

Our Transportation/Tunnel team has developed a unique methodology for evaluating the performance of existing tunnel systems and sub-systems based on the European Specific Hazard Investigations guidelines. When conducting opportunity studies on existing tunnels, CIMA+ uses a multidisciplinary approach to risk management focused on improving user safety and protecting the structures in the event of a major fire.

CIMA+ maintains regular contact with tunnel engineers and scientists from Europe and the United States, which allows our team to uphold its leading-edge expertise in this field. CIMA+ presented four technical papers at the International Symposium on Tunnel Safety & Security (ISTSS) held in 2012 (New York, USA) and in 2014 (Marseille, France), and will participate at the 2016 conference to take place in Montreal, Canada.

The longest underwater tunnel in Canada

The Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine Tunnel (1967), an immersed tunnel under the Saint Lawrence River, links the island of Montreal to the south shore. It is the longest in Canada at 1.4 km, and has average traffic of 133,000 vehicles daily. The tunnel consists of seven prefabricated caissons, built in dry dock, then hauled, immersed and assembled in a trench dug in the bed of the river.

A unique expressway under downtown Montreal

CIMA+ has been involved for many years in the refurbishment and upgrading of the Ville-Marie and Viger tunnels. The original section of the tunnel was built as a monolithic structure in an open trench. Other sections were created by covering open lanes and building structures over them. This unique interchange spans four kilometres.

Below are two projects in which CIMA+ was responsible for the inspections, diverse studies and for the designing and supervising of rehabilitation work, with particular emphasis on the safety and risk issues related to fire.

www.cima.ca