TAC 2020-One Toronto: Vision Underground

John Bianchini, P.Eng. – Chairman and CEO, Hatch

Canadian Tunnelling – What Can the Mining Industry Bring to The Table?

John Bianchini will examine the current and potential roles of the Canadian mining sector in the expansion and success of the Canadian tunnelling industry. By highlighting lessons learned from the mining industry (automation, safety, contract & procurement methods, etc.) John will make a strong case for breaking down the silos between the tunnelling and mining sectors and exploring new ways to learn and work together. To reinforce his case, he will present high level statistics for transit tunnel spending in Canada and around the world and will highlight Canadian tunnelling and mining engineering expertise.

From RFP to TBM; An Innovative Approach to Risk Management on the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Project
Presented by: Graham Swarbrick, Tunnel Engineer-In-Training

The Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant (AIWWTP) is the third largest plant of its kind in Canada. As the region prepares to welcome a million more people by 2040, the facility is currently undergoing a major expansion to accommodate the anticipated population growth. The underground portion of the expansion project consists of two on-land, 40-metre-deep shafts adjacent to the treatment plant. The shafts will be connected by a 200-metre tunnel, with a second 600-metre tunnel transporting effluent from the second shaft to a diffuser manifold structure in the Fraser River. Both tunnels will have a finished internal diameter of 4.2 metres. Tunnelling commenced in early March 2021. The tunnel will be excavated using a hydro-shield slurry tunnel boring machine (TBM). This paper outlines how a risk-based approach taken cooperatively between Metro Vancouver, Pomerleau Bessac, Hatch and CDM Smith, from the RFP to construction, led to the successful first (of two) launches from a confined shaft into high pressure ground conditions.