Construction

The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir (SR1) Project includes:

a Diversion Structure on the Elbow River,
a 4.7 kilometre long Diversion Channel, and
a 29-metre-high earthen dam stretching approximately 3.8 kilometre.

Please refer to the project presentation for more details.

In total, earthwork volume for this project is estimated at around five million cubic metres.

The project includes a series of hydraulic structures and two overpass bridges above the Diversion Channel totalling approximately 70,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete.

The construction started in Spring 2022, with topsoil stripping operations.

Regional setting

SR1 is located west of the city of Calgary, north of the Elbow River.

Minimizing impact

Work hours

Earthworks Coordinator - ©: Josée Lecompte | The Pulses

The project work hours are:

Monday – Saturday: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Overnight work, authorized by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC), may be required to limit impacts and improve public safety

For questions or concerns related to on site works please contact us.

Minimizing impact on public traffic

Temporary bridge and haul road crossing arrangement above Highway 22 – ©: VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC) 3D view

In order to mitigate the impact of the works to public traffic, a temporary bridge has been erected above Highway 22 for the purpose of the overhead haul road crossing. This temporary overhead bridge is expected to remain in place until fall 2023 and minimizes the interface between hauling operations and public traffic.

Minimizing impact on soil, air, and water quality

Elbow River – water quality monitoring June 2022 – CPP environmental - ©: VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC)

The contractor will use best practices that minimize impacts to soil, air, and water quality including:

reusing excavated material for the channel construction for the Dam Embankment
minimizing extra borrow footprint and therefore minimizing native soils disturbance
optimizing mass haul to reduce carbon footprint
caring for water drain off on-site through the installation of desilting basins at main dewatering/stormwater discharge points

Roads & traffic safety

The safety of workers, the public and infrastructure users is our top priority.

“Preserving everyone’s physical well-being and health beyond being a corporate value, is a human duty that we each have to one another.”
Bruno Bernet | Deputy Chief Executive Officer | VINCI Construction Terrassement Grands Projets

All road users are responsible for safety. Road and traffic safety are major challenges for the project, especially along Highway 22 and Springbank Road. The project team is committed to ensuring the project staff and public are protected.

As the public road user, your adherence to the posted speed limits and road signage is paramount to achieving a safe working and driving environment.
Thank you for your cooperation.

SR1 project team is committed to providing season ongoing communications during the construction person when traffic impacts arise.

During this project, speeds along Highway 22 will be reduced, and a construction zone will be in place from Highway 1 to Highway 8 to protect both workers on the highway and the public from the activities that will take place. Some areas will see speed reductions to 30 km/hr when workers are present on the highway, but generally, speeds will be reduced to 80 km/hr or 50 km/hr.

Anticipated main road closures and detours are:

detour for bridge construction on Township Road 242. From May 2022 to Summer 2023.
detour for bridge construction on Highway 22. From May 2022 to Fall 2023.
detour/alternate traffic/road closures for Highway 22 / Springbank Road intersection grade raise. From May 2023 to Fall 2023.

Reminder: Construction Zone speed fines double within the work zone. Passing is not permitted in a construction zone.

Please remain vigilant in reducing speeds along the highway and be mindful of workers when present.

For travel information please visit:
511 Alberta – Alberta’s Official Road Reports
Go to 511.alberta.ca and follow @511Alberta

Contractors & subcontractors

TEC is committed to working in collaboration with Indigenous Nations and groups who are a fundamental piece in the development of this project.

In partnership with VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC), as prime contractor on the project, numerous subcontractors, and nine Indigenous Nations and groups across central and southern Alberta are involved in the delivery of this work:

Blood Tribe,
Ermineskin Cree Nation,
Louis Bull First Nation,
Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3,
Montana First Nation,
Samson Cree Nation,
Siksika Nation,
Stoney Nakoda Nation, and
Tsuut’ina Nation.

How to join in SR1 as a Contractor/Subcontractor?
Contractors and subcontractors interested in participating in the project may contact VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC), through SR1 team website contact section.

VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC)

VINCI Infrastructure Canada Limited (VIC) is the fully owned Canadian subsidiary of VINCI Construction Terrassement Grands Projets and has been operating in this country since 2014. VINCI Construction Terrassement Grands Projets is a subsidiary of VINCI Construction, a business line of VINCI.

VINCI is a world leader in concessions, energy, and construction, active in nearly 120 countries. In response to the climate emergency, it strives to accelerate the transformation of living environments, infrastructure, and mobility.
When it comes to massive and complex infrastructure projects, the VINCI Construction business line engages its earthworks branch: VINCI Construction Terrassement Grands Projets which was part of the successful Design-Build Team for the Regina Bypass project. Currently, the company is involved in the ongoing West Calgary Ring Road project and SR1 in Canada.

With its proven capacities to self-perform all design and works of highway infrastructures and to manage design-build lump sum projects, VINCI Construction Terrassement Grands Projets covers the full range of capabilities (geotechnics, topography, earthmoving, environment management, civil engineering structures works, …) required to carry out infrastructure and development projects whatever their complexity, their location, and the climate.