Tembec Forest Resource Management retained the design-build team of Surespan Construction Ltd. and Associated Engineering to complete planning, design and construction of the Kapuskasing River Bridge on the Fred Flatt Road. The new bridge crosses the Kapuskasing River approximately 20 kilometres north of Kapuskasing, ON. The bridge allows resource access to the lands north of the Kapuskasing River for Tembec’s forestry activities, as well as access for Ontario Power Generation to generating facilities on the Mattagami River.
The original bridge was no longer serviceable due to its deteriorating condition and reduced load capacities. The new 128 metre long, three-span bridge crosses the Kapuskasing River adjacent to the original bridge crossing. The team’s design incorporated a simply supported, twin steel, I-girder bridge with a composite, precast concrete deck. The abutments and piers are supported on steel pipe piles and the piers incorporate concrete filled plate diaphragms for ice loading. The two-pier configuration reduces the bridge impact on the local river hydrology. The proposed alignment improves the approach grades without significantly increasing the spans, providing a more serviceable bridge.
Associated Engineering provided planning, bridge and road design, hydrological assessment, and part-time resident engineering services during construction.