We are delighted that the Tunnelling Association of Canada has selected the GO Expansion: Highway 401 and 409 Twin SEM Tunnels Project as the as the 2022 recipient of its Canadian Project of the Year (Over $100M CAD) Award. In announcing the project as recipient the TAC Board of Directors said “This award is made to a team who has significantly contributed to a project in Canada that has demonstrated the highest level of engineering skill, and shown insight and understanding of underground construction for a project in Canada.”
TTP (a joint venture led by STRABAG and EllisDon for Metrolinx) delivered two new single-track rail tunnels of approx. 188m length and 11m height each crossing the Highway 401/409 intersection with the aim to increase capacity along the Kitchener GO commuter rail corridor and to accommodate the new Union-Pearson (UP) Express service. Dr. Sauer & Partners along with design partners WSP Canada and Jensen Hughes provided tunnel design services to address the challenging conditions (large tunnel cross sections, very low overburden, man-made ground, intercepting piles and other man-made obstructions) and the tunnels were mined less than 5m under the 401/409 Highway using the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM).
We are thrilled to have won this amazing accolade for the work on the project alongside all our project colleagues and look forward to attending the award presentation in Vancouver in early November. Managing Director in Canada for Dr. Sauer & Partners, Gerald Skalla commented: “We are delighted that this significant project and in particular the SEM alternative option has been recognised by the TAC and has received this special accolade. Many congratulations to all those involved – this award proves that hard work and dedication to excellence really pay off!”
