CQL has been awarded the contract for the Paulatuk Drainage and Road Improvement Design 2014-15. The purpose of this project is to mitigate the annual flooding experienced in the southern side of the community, where excessive water build-up comes after the spring thaw, affecting road access ways and the cemetery access.
Approach / Scope of Work:
- Prepare documents, drawings and specification (the design work will follow CQL’s Preliminary design
- From 2013 including CAD drawings and based on satellite imaging);
- Design geometric and upgrades to the following roads, 1,2,3, Lagoon and Water treatment plant road;
- Recommend drainage upgrade (culvert locations)
- Provide opinion on possible construction cost
- Project Completion : February 16, 2015
The engineering challenge has been to develop a solution to the flooding and water ponding in the southern section of the hamlet – The solution must aim to mitigate and conform with the topography, snow drift, beach/beach cliff erosion, soil and permafrost conditions, which exist in Paulatuk. The solution needs to be relatively low maintenance, (isolation, means increased cost for basic services), as well as able to withstand the harsh arctic environment.
The roads on the Southern section of the community will be raised in sections over the entire alignment and especially in the areas where there is excessive accumulation of water, primarily form the winter melt. These roads have been realigned to allow much more stable sub-base and base conditions. Additionally, much larger culverts will be installed and the culvert enter/exits protected by Gabion basket type abutments. This protection is very important, since the drainage pipes are not visible when the snow is being removed and are severely damaged (and make useless) preventing the removal of melt.
