Associated wins at 2025 Minister’s Awards for Transportation Innovation in Alberta

Earlier this week at the Consulting Engineers of Alberta's Transportation Connects Conference in Edmonton, Associated Engineering and project partner (Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors) received a Minister’s Award for Transportation Innovation for the Deerfoot Trail Improvements – Alternative Contamination Management project!

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors worked with regulatory agencies to receive a first-of-its-kind approval to implement administrative and engineered controls to re-use impacted soils within the project footprint, thus avoiding the cost of disposal and limiting greenhouse gas emissions from hauling impacts soils and replacing them with clean soils.

Originally constructed in 1971, the Deerfoot Trail has served Calgary well, as it experienced accelerated growth and expansion over the decades, but now exceeded the original expectations of the roadway. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors and the City of Calgary identified the need to address the volume and capacity issues on this major commuter freeway and key trade corridor, while recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

As part of the project planning stage, an environmental evaluation was completed to identify and allocate risks, identify and manage environmental sensitivities, and support the development of procurement documentation and technical requirements. As part of this evaluation, Associated team's examined soil and groundwater conditions within the project area, which included a Modified Phase I and Limited Phase 2 ESA Environmental Site Assessment.

During this environmental evaluation process, 248 areas of potential contamination were identified within or adjacent to the road right of way. Additionally, there were extensive impacts to the soil from roadway operations. The cost to remove all contaminated soils was projected to be approximately $88 million.

This award-winning innovation can be adapted to future transportation system projects where contamination management may be a concern, and where the import of fill material may not make environmental sense, due to anticipated land use. This applies to both large and small rehabilitation projects or greenfield development projects on lands with known contamination.

Also at the awards event, Associated Engineering was recognized with a Minister's Award of Excellence for Partnering on a Major Project for the West Calgary Ring Road DB2 project!