Highways and Public Works

Slims River Bridge Replacement Project

The Slims River Bridge Replacement Project is part of the Shakwak Project .

Project is expected to be completed in spring 2010.

Alaska Highway #1 - km 1647
Communities near bridge site:
Destruction Bay (38 km northwest) and 
Haines Junction (68 km southeast)

 

Before

 

After

New Bridge

The new bridge will be an 80 meters single span with steel girders and concrete deck. The abutments will be on steel piles filled with concrete. The finished bridge deck will be 11 meters wide traveled way with a 2 meters wide sidewalk which ties into a trail system. The design life of the new bridge will be 75 years. It has been designed to meet the seismic requirements for a lifeline bridge.

Schedule and Type of Work

2010 Bituminous Surface Treatment
roadway portion of project
Spring 2010 Remove Detour and Construct Guide Banks by P.S. Sidhu Trucking
Late Fall 2009/ Early 2010

Construction by Ruskin Construction Ltd.
new bridge and approximately 900 meters of road work

Completed
Late Fall		  Bridge Construction
Completed
Fall & Early Winter 2008		 Ground Improvement by Surespan Construction Ltd.
installation of stone columns using the vibro-replacement technique
Completed
Fall 2008 		Relocation and Demolition by Surespan Construction Ltd.
moving the south span of the existing bridge to the detour and the demolition of the north span of the existing bridge

Project Challenges

  • This project is located in a zone of high seismic activity with high probability of soil liquefaction in the foundation areas. To overcome the detrimental effects of liquefaction, costly ground improvement techniques like soil densification near the abutments and pier foundations are normally required. Many factors must be considered in the new bridge designs, however, it would be preferable to limit the new structures to a single span and thereby limit the need for ground improvements.
  • The harsh cold climate will restrict the in-situ concrete work. Alternatives include pre-cast concrete or steel structural members, but these are associated with very high transportation costs. So, a balance must be struck between casting concrete in place and using steel or pre-cast concrete structural members.
  • Shortage of experienced construction work forces in this remote location is another problem which may affect the duration and project cost.

History of the Old Bridge

The Slims River Bridge was built by the Canadian Army in 1955. It consists of  two steel through truss spans of 61 meters each on reinforced concrete piers and abutments. The brdige is located in a zone of relatively high seismic activity and of extremely harsh climate.

Contact Us - Transportation Engineering

Government of Yukon
Department of Highways and Public Works
Box 2703 (W-13)
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6
Canada 
 
Phone: (867) 667-8820
Toll free in Yukon: 1-800-661-0408 - local 8820
Fax: (867) 393-6447
Email: highways@gov.yk.ca