Artelia’s team of Materials Engineering and Quality Control specialists has been commissioned by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable to carry out quality control and materials engineering for the extension of Route 138. The 9.1-km stretch between Tête-à-la-Baleine and La Tabatière will help reduce the isolation of residents who currently have to travel by boat, plane or snowmobile.
The Highway 138 extension project aims to link the communities of the Lower North Shore to each other and to the rest of Quebec. Nearly 5,000 residents live in this region, which is divided into five municipalities, one unorganized territory and two aboriginal communities, along nearly 400 km of the St. Lawrence River. Until now, the population of the Lower North Shore has had to rely on sea or air services to meet its needs. Only in winter is the region accessible by land via the Route blanche, a snowmobile trail. The overall project was segmented into several sections, including the “Tête-à-la-Baleine to La Tabatière” section, for which Artelia was awarded a mandate.
The mandate obtained by Artelia for this project involved quality control and materials engineering for the construction of two road segments with a total length of 9.1 km, as well as a 161.2 m span steel-concrete structure including three continuous spans composed of steel beams. The structure is considered complex and will cross the Lac de Gros-Mécatina river. Specific technical elements involving the treatment of organic soils, as well as clay consolidation work using pre-loading backfill, counterweights and the installation of vertical drains will be carried out as part of this mandate.
A number of challenges await our team in terms of logistics, geography and climate. Firstly, due to the remoteness of the site, transportation of equipment by boat, plane and helicopter will be necessary, and potential delays due to weather conditions are to be expected. In addition, it will be necessary to install a materials testing laboratory directly on the worksite, so that work can be carried out nearby. Secondly, the local manufacture of granular materials and cement concrete will present compliance challenges. Finally, the short summer period will require adaptations for cold-weather work, with clear communication of expectations to the contractor.
We look forward to applying our expertise and experience with complex projects to bring tangible benefits to the residents of the Lower North Shore.
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