Alternative Delivery

McKay River Bridge

Location

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Expertise

Alternative Delivery

Transportation

Bridges

Bridges – Remote & Resource Bridges

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) required a road and bridge over the McKay River, 500 kilometres north of Edmonton, to provide access to future mining operations in the region.

In addition to highway traffic, the bridge needed to carry 840 tonne, owner-specified, overload vehicles, among the heaviest vehicles to travel on Alberta’s roads. The project comprised a new 262 metre, five span, two‑lane bridge and 9 kilometres of roads.

CNRL retained the design-build team of Kiewit Management Company, Brybil (an affiliate of Associated Engineering), AMEC Earth and Environmental and AMEC Infrastructure. Associated Engineering provided overall design, project management, detailed design of the bridge, construction services, and coordination of work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Alberta Environmental Protection.

Client

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

Project Highlights

840T

Weight

9KM

Roads

This project had an accelerated schedule, progressing from design through to substantial completion in just ten months. Associated Engineering completed the bridge design over a period of three months, while continually providing critical information. This was done by developing a quality control program that facilitated the partial release of design information prior to actual design completion. The program facilitated the ordering of all materials prior to issuing construction drawings. Associated Engineering provided on site engineering services through all critical stages to ensure that the project proceeded on schedule.