Nova Chemicals Project
Sarnia, Ontario
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Unfortunately, extreme weather, including “millennial
flooding events,” have become increasingly common. The
Quebec government offered up to $200,000 to flood victims
who wished to relocate elsewhere in the aftermath of the
Saint-Marthe-sur-le-Lac catastrophe, but many residents
chose to stay in the community they loved and to rebuild. To
ensure future safety and allow residents to regain some peace
of mind, the work of designing, repairing, reinforcing, raising
and waterproofing the dike would have to be accomplished
as quickly as possible, before 2020’s spring thaw.
Engineers determined that to protect the entire
Marthelacquois municipality against spring floods for the
next 100 years, a dike 26.5 metres above sea level, along the
entire length of the shore would be needed, which would be
about 1.4 metres higher than the previous earthen dike. The
federal and provincial governments would pay 80 per cent of
the project costs and the City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac 20
per cent.
Protecting against extreme spring flooding
for 100 years
By mid-June, borehole drilling had begun to determine the
nature of the soils inside and under the dike. The general
contractor, DuroKing Construction, began pre-construction
work in August. Its subcontractor, ETPO Géodex Inc., which
specializes in piles and deep foundations and maritime work,
started the sheet piling installation in September, only a few
weeks later.
Made from more than 2,000 pairs of AZ 14-770 sheet
piling – from six to eight and even 10 metres long – driven in
impermeable soil, the new waterproof dike includes a sturdy,
calibrated riprap up to the crest of the dike on the lake side to
provide the strength and durability to cope with floods and
strong waves, and an obstacle-free path for effective maintenance.
When Phase 1 of the job was finished, the sheet piling
portion of the dike was five kilometres long.
“Some portions of the new sheet-pile dike are located in
the same places as the failed natural dike, but some others
are at new locations, following the experts’ recommendations,”
said Alex Gravel, sales and marketing manager of
Gilbert Inc., manufacturer of the Grizzly MultiGrip vibratory
pile drivers used to install the sheet piles.
“The soil conditions are very inconsistent,” he said. “In
some places, the ground is very soft, while in others, there
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