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Remedial measures incorporating jet grouting and micropiles for the

construction of a new back flow preventer

Conference Paper · November 2020

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Remedial measures incorporating jet grouting and
micropiles for the construction of a new back flow
preventer
Naresh Gurpersaud, Jim Bruce & Mark Redden
Geo-Foundations Contractors Inc., Acton, Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT
A new back flow preventer (BFP) was constructed as part of Toronto’s West Don Lands (WDL) redevelopment in
preparation for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Movement of three adjacent existing bridge piers early during conventional
construction necessitated an embargo on dewatering, a change from conventional to innovative techniques as well as
remedial measures to construct the new backflow preventer. The site is located within the flood plain of the Don River
and is underlain by over 30 metres of weak organic deposits. Overlapping jet grouted columns were installed using the
double fluid process to create both a low permeability base plug and a vertical cut-off. Jet grouting parameters were
verified by conducting a full-scale pre-production test program. Rock-socketed micropiles were installed through the jet
grout base plug to support and tiedown the new chamber. Several challenges were encountered during remedial works,
namely revisions to the method and sequence required to mitigate further movement of the adjacent bridge piers.
Eventually additional micropiles were installed as part of a foundation retrofitting scheme to permanently transfer the
foundations of the three existing bridge piers to rock. Jet grouting was successfully applied to construct a base plug and
vertical cut-off to stabilize the ground and enable excavation works to be performed in the dry. Micropiles were
successfully applied to construct a foundation through the jet grout base plug as well as replacing the compromised
existing bridge pier foundations. Full scale pre-production test programs were conducted for both jet grouting and
micropiles. Details of the jet grouting, backflow preventer micropiles and bridge micropiles, including test programs and
challenges encountered during construction are outlined in this paper.

RÉSUMÉ
Un nouveau dispositif antirefoulement a été construit dans le cadre de West Don Lands (BNM) le réaménagement de
Toronto en préparation pour les Jeux panaméricains de 2015. Mouvement de trois adjacentes piles de pont premiers
cours de construction classique a nécessité un embargo sur la déshydratation, un changement du conventionnel à des
techniques novatrices ainsi que des mesures correctives pour construire le nouveau dispositif antirefoulement.Le site est
situé dans la plaine d'inondation de la rivière Don et est sous-tendue par plus de 30 mètres de dépôts organiques
faibles. Jet injecté colonnes se chevauchent ont été installés à l'aide du processus à double fluide pour créer à la fois un
bouchon de base à faible perméabilité et un vertical coupure. paramètres d'injection de Jet ont été vérifiées par la
réalisation d'un programme de test de pré-production à grande échelle. micropieux Rock-socketed ont été installés à
travers le bouchon de base de coulis de jet de soutenir et d'arrimage de la nouvelle chambre. Plusieurs défis ont été
rencontrés lors de travaux de réparation, à savoir la révision de la méthode et la séquence nécessaire pour atténuer
davantage le mouvement des piles de pont adjacentes. Finalement micropieux supplémentaires ont été installés dans le
cadre d'un régime fondation de modernisation de transférer définitivement les fondations des trois piles de pont au rock.
Jet grouting a été appliquée avec succès à construire un bouchon de base et verticale coupure pour stabiliser le sol et
permettre des travaux d'excavation à effectuer sur le sec. Micropieux ont été appliquées avec succès pour construire
une fondation à travers le bouchon de base jet de coulis ainsi que le remplacement des fondations de pile de pont
existantes compromis. Programmes d'essais de pré-production à pleine échelle ont été menées à la fois pour jet
grouting et micropieux. Détails du jet grouting, micropieux reflux préventifs et micropieux de pont, y compris les
programmes et les défis rencontrés lors de la construction essai sont décrites dans le présent document.

1 INTRODUCTION 2-chamber back flow preventer (BFP) intercepting an

existing 1650 mm diameter storm sewer. The back flow
The West Don Lands (WDL) is a former industrial area in preventer was constructed beneath the area where the
southeast Toronto transformed into a sustainable King Street and Queen Street bridges converge just west
residential community featuring 6000 new units, of the Don River.
commercial space and 9 hectares of public spaces. A Construction of the BFP was originally intended to be
section of the development will be used as the Athletes’ completed using an internally braced steel sheet pile
Village for the 2015 PanAm / ParapanAm Games and is excavation support system in conjunction with dewatering
being developed by Waterfront Toronto in partnership with to enable excavation around and beneath the existing
Infrastructure Ontario. The WDL site is located within the 1650 mm diameter sewer. The depth of excavation
Don River flood plain and extensive flood protection has required was 12 m below ground surface, with the south
been implemented into the community design, including a sheet pile wall approaching, in plan, as close as 3 m
horizontally to the bridge columns. Work commenced in specifically, jet grouting was used to construct both a
2012 but was halted soon thereafter due to movements of bottom seal and vertical cut-offs at each transverse
adjacent existing bridge columns after installation of sheet support wall. Jet grouting was selected due to its
piles but before any excavation. The project’s consultants versatility and ability to be performed in a surgical
decided that the original plan could not proceed. An manner.
alternative approach was required that could result in the Geo-Foundations was also engaged to construct
excavation support system installation – and excavation to micropiles for two separate aspects of the project – as the
depth – being completed without dewatering. permanent foundation system for the new BFP chamber,
Specialty geotechnical contractor Geo-Foundations and as remedial piles to replace the existing timber piles
was engaged to propose a design approach incorporating at the bridge piers that had suffered from movements
jet grouting to improve the existing soils surrounding and induced by sheet pile installation.
below the proposed excavation to the extent necessary Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the jet grouting,
that excavation support installation and excavation could chamber micropiles and bridge micropiles.
proceed without initiating further movement of the
adjacent bridge piers, all without dewatering. More

Figure 1: Perspective view of jet grouting, micropiles and soldier piles

2 GEOLOGICAL SETTING silt, clayey silt till and highly weathered shale of the
Georgian Bay formation at 28 m below grade.
The site is located in the area where the Don River used Approximately 3 m of weathered shale is present before
to flow before being straightened out at the start of the sound rock is encountered. A dense, wet, sand layer
20th century. The soil profile consists of clayey silt and exists at locations closer to the Don River at depths
organic fill from 0-5 m below existing grade. Weak organic around 20-25 m. Figure 2 shows the subsurface profile at
silt with SPT ‘N’ values between 0 and 7 then make up the the location of the backflow preventer.
profile from 5 m to approximately 13 m below existing
grade. The remainder of the profile is made up of sandy
 Figure 2: Subsurface profile at work location

basis to ensure that no further movement of the bridge

3 JET GROUTING piers was initiated as a result of jet grouting, and if this did
happen, contingency plans could be implemented to
3.1 DESIGN APPROACH continue jet grouting to completion. Based on significant
local experience and success, the double-fluid jet grouting
The key driver to the jet grouting design approach was the method was proposed.
soft nature of the soils over the entire proposed treatment
depth of 15 metres. Coupled with this consideration was 3.2 OVERVIEW
the fact that the project was already in crisis, so it was
important that the proposed jet grouting method should be Jet grouting is typically constructed from the bottom
something with which the consultants were familiar and upwards. The drill string is advanced to the target depth
with which the contractor had significant local experience using non-jetting, typically with water flush or a weak grout
(and success). Finally, it was important to use a jet mix. The resulting small diameter hole to the bottom of the
grouting method that could be implemented on a surgical treated zone sets the stage for jet grouting by creating a
passage (upwards through the annular space between the
inside of the borehole wall and the outside of the drill
string) for evacuation of excess jet grout spoils.
The double fluid process of jet grouting separately
supplies grout and compressed air to the bottom of the
drill string via separate, concentric passages within the
string. Grout is ejected laterally through specially
designed nozzles that focus the grout stream for
maximum erosive effect. The compressed air meets the
grout slurry on the downstream side of the nozzle,
shrouding the grout slurry jet (Fig. 3) to further amplify its
erosive effect.
Jet grouting parameters such as rotation rate, lift rate,
injection pressure and mix design are typically proposed
based on the contractors’ previous experience in similar
ground conditions, before being tested in representative
conditions, evaluated for performance and conformance, Figure 3: Typical double fluid jet grouting profile
and eventually selected for, or modified prior to,
production jet grouting. 3.4 PRE-PRODUCTION JET GROUT TEST PROGRAM
3.3 DESIGN SPECIFIC TO THIS PROJECT Pre-production jet grout testing was performed at the site
to verify the jet grout parameters that would generate the
Incorporating the existing sheet pile walls on both long target column diameter and in situ permeability. A location
sides of the BFP chamber, the jet grouting layout was close to the proposed BFP footprint, but reasonably
designed in order to fully isolate, or “box in”, the proposed distant from the now especially movement-sensitive
excavation. Overlapping vertical columns, nominally 12 m bridge piers, was selected for installation of three
high, created cut-off walls on the east and west sides, overlapping test columns (Fig. 4). The test columns were
transverse to the alignment of the existing sewer. These advanced to a depth of 7 m below ground surface (mbgs)
vertical columns were augmented with battered columns and jet grouting was performed from the bottom upwards
arranged to “gouge out” the soils present under the from 7 to 2 mbgs.
footprint of the existing sewer in order to prevent the Alignment surveys were performed on all installed test
possibility of untreated, flowable soil “windows”. A 3 m columns and quality control checks were performed on
thick base plug, consisting of overlapping jet grout the grout mix. All jet grouting installation parameters were
columns installed from 9 mbgs to 12 mbgs, was installed recorded using the Data Acquisition (DAQ) system on the
over the entire footprint of the excavation, including drill rig.
intimate contact with the sheet piles and overlapping the After a curing period of 48 hours, the columns were
vertical and battered cut off columns. exhumed to physically examine the geometric properties
As a preventative measure to avoid basal heave of the within the upper 1m section (i.e. from 2 to 3 mbgs). Core
existing sewer during jet grouting, PVC sleeve pipes were drilling was performed using the PQ-3 system. Core
installed prior to jet grouting at all jet grout locations samples were retrieved and subjected to laboratory
adjacent to the existing sewer. testing for strength and permeability, and all cored holes
The locations and spacing were based on a target jet were video logged to visually verify the consistency of the
grout column diameter of 1.8 m and a minimum required borehole wall. A falling head test was performed in the
column overlap of 150 mm. Target permeability of jet cored hole located at the interstice of the 3 overlapping jet
grouted soil, governed by the design requirements for grout test columns.
performance of the base plug, was 10-5 cm/second. A summary of the test results is provided in Table 1.0.
Satisfied with the results of pre-production testing, the
same installation parameters and methodology
incorporated into constructing the test columns were
utilised for production jet grouting.
 a high capacity batch plant and then transferred to the drill
string via a high pressure pump capable of producing
pressures of up to 100 MPa.
The drill string with the jet grout monitor (the device
through which grout is jetted into the ground) was
advanced to the target depth and inclination (as required)
using a grout slurry and low pressure air as the flushing
medium. Installation of each column was completed in a
single stroke. Orientation of each drilled hole was
surveyed using a Shape Accel Array (SAA) tool. The SAA
tool was lowered into the drill rods prior to
commencement of jet grouting. Inclination of the drill mast
and depth of the drill string were both continuously
monitored and recorded by the onboard DAQ system.
After checking the orientation of the hole, jetting
commenced. Jetting continued at a typical lift rate of 0.2
m/min, rotation rate of 10 RPM and injection pressure of
40 MPa before being stopped at the top of column
elevation.
The section of the hole above the column elevation
was tremied with grout. Visual inspection of returning
Figure 4: Jet grout test column layout, including coring spoils was continuously performed in order to ensure no
locations hydrofracture or hydraulic jacking would occur. All spoils
were transferred to a localized containment area by
means of a sand guzzler hooked up to the drill rig. Spoils
setup to a dense clay consistency within 24 hrs.
Table 1.0 : Summary of test results from pre-production
jet grout test program
3.5.1 Quality Control

Description Designed Average Throughout the jet grouting operations, numerous quality
control measures were implemented to continuously
Column dia. (m) 1.8 2.2 monitor the jet grouting parameters (i.e. lift, flow, rotation,
pressure, air flow, etc.). All DAQ reports from each
installed column were reviewed to ensure consistency
In-situ permeability (cm/s) 1 x 10-5 1.69 x 10-5 with the site specific parameters. A typical plot obtained
during the jet grouting of a column is shown in Figure 5.
Unconfined compressive Samples of grouting spoils being expelled from the collar
1 3.2
strength after 28 days(MPa) of the hole were captured at regular intervals and
measured for specific gravity. Spoils samples were also
Specific Energy (MJ/m) 50 50 cast into grout cube moulds and sent to an accredited
independent testing laboratory for unconfined
compressive strength (UCS) testing. Every jet grout
column was surveyed and the SAA data was reviewed
3.5 JET GROUTING METHODOLOGY and plotted in a timely manner to identify potential gaps in
the cut-off and base plug. The SAA (Shape Accel Array)
A dynamic process was implemented for establishing the tool is a reel mounted unit with 3 MEMS (micro
layout of the jet grout columns considering the existing electromechanical systems) in every segment, spaced at
sewer, steel bracing, sheet piles and restricted access. In 0.5 m intervals. This unit is able to provide real time data
advance of jet grout installation, all as-built information of the inclination and orientation with a single shot
was incorporated to establish a preliminary scheme to measurement. A 3-D grouting profile was developed and
create adequate overlap of the jet grout columns despite updated on a daily basis due to the obstructions and
the several interferences at various depths throughout the complexity in achieving the desired column overlap.
treatment profile. Jet grouting was performed using a
specially configured drill rig with on-board data acquisition
(DAQ) and control system to perform jet grout installations
in a fully automated mode. Grout slurry was batched using
 Figure 5: A typical plot obtained from the DAQ system during jet grouting of a column

3.5.2 POST CONSTRUCTION VERIFICATION Table 2.0: Summary of results from the post-production
falling head tests
Upon completion of the jet grout columns, two P-size
cored holes were advanced 11 m below surface to Hole Location Permeability (cm/s)
penetrate into the 3 m deep jet grout base plug and falling CH-1 2.34 x 10-6
head permeability tests were performed. The installation
procedure of the cored holes was modified from the CH-2 2.75 x 10-7
process used to conduct testing on the pre-production jet
grout columns. A P-size casing was advanced 0.5 m into
the jet grout base plug and a tremie plug was installed to 4 CHAMBER MICROPILES
seal the casing in place. Coring of the 1 m long test
section was performed 24 hours after installation of the P- When the project first encountered crisis and the decision
size casing was set in place. The results obtained from was reached to change the construction approach to
the falling head tests performed in the two cored holes are incorporate jet grouting, the project designers had a new
provided in Table 2.0. problem to tackle in the form of the deep foundation for
the cast-in-place concrete BFP chamber. The original
scheme of founding the chamber on H-piles driven to rock
was no longer feasible given the extreme sensitivity of the
bridge piers. The driven H-piles were replaced with twelve
rock-socketed micropiles designed to resist both
compression and uplift forces, installed from existing
grade after jet grouting but prior to chamber excavation.

4.1 Micropile Design Approach

Individual factored loading of each pile was 1200 kN in

compression and 600 kN in tension. The poor quality of
the overburden soils, and extreme depth to which the poor
soils extended, combined with the loading requirements
lead to the obvious decision to socket the micropiles in
rock. Each micropile was reinforced with a single 57 mm
diameter (517 MPa) threaded bar over its entire length
concentric to a 178 mm x 13 wall permanent casing
extending from surface to a minimum depth of 500 mm
into sound rock. The micropiles were installed with a Figure 6: BFP chamber excavation at target depth
minimum rock socket length (below the tip of the
permanent casing) of 5 m in sound rock. Micropiles were
designed in accordance with the US Department of 4.3 Proof testing
Transportation and US Federal Highway Administration,
Micropile Design and Construction Guidelines, June 2000, Balancing the priorities of confirming the micropile design
using the load factor design (LFD) method. Given the assumptions with the need to keep the project on
extreme depth of the poor quality soils beneath the schedule and keep costs in check, the decision was
chamber, a buckling check was performed to confirm the reached to perform load testing on a production micropile.
adequacy of the casing size and wall thickness based on Given the very poor quality of the soils at existing grade,
the governing compression loading case. the presence of numerous obstructions and a freshly
constructed jet grout base plug, load testing was
4.2 Installation of chamber micropiles performed using cycled static tension on a specially
designated production micropile featuring a bond length in
The micropiles were drilled using a double head duplex rock shortened to half its normal design of 5 m. By using
rotary percussive drilling system. This technique allowed this approach, the magnitude of applied loading could be
for the retraction of the drill bit into the casing, when kept to just 1200 kN while still allowing evaluation of
required, in order to avoid plugging of the drill rods while grout-to-rock adhesion at the nominal bond stress at
in the wet, dense sand layer present at varying depths factored compression loading, and the only shortened pile
within the piling profile. The temporary steel casing was would itself be a proof tested pile (thereby justifying its
advanced up to 500 mm into sound rock to avoid any shorter embedment in rock relative to every other pile).
possible collapse while drilling the rock socket. After the After reaching the test load of 1200 kN, the load was held
cleaning of the rock socket and casing, the reinforcement for 1 hour, over which time it exhibited a creep of 0.61
was installed with mechanical splices every 7.6 m. Each mm. Unloading of the pile produced non-elastic
pile was tremie grouted using a water to cement ratio of movement of 4.46 mm. A summary of the test pile and
0.45 and once the inside of the casing was full to the top proof test results are presented in Table 3.0.
with clean, dense grout each pile was pressure grouted
through the top of the casing until the equivalent of 100 Table 3.0: Summary of chamber micropile static tension
litres of pressure grout had been injected. The specific proof test results
gravity was measured during each pile to ensure a value
greater than 1.85 g/cm3 and grout cubes were taken and
Load (kN) Movement (mm) Creep from 1 to
sent to an independent accredited testing laboratory for
10 mins. (mm)
unconfined compressive strength (UCS).
600 9.93 0.07
After all 12 production micropiles had been installed, a
1200 24.47 0.13
separate drilling and grouting process was applied to each
micropile in order to seal any possibility of leaks through
the base plug resulting from each pile’s breaching of the
plug. Each micropile was over-reamed from surface down 5 REMEDIAL BRIDGE MICROPILES
to the underside of the jet grout base plug using a 245
mm casing outfitted with ripping teeth and water flush. The final problem arising from the original bridge
With the reaming casing in place at the underside of the movements was finding a long term solution that would
base plug, grout was injected under gravity head and the ensure the integrity of the settled bridge piers. The
casing was retracted. Figure 6 shows the excavation for solution to this problem consisted of constructing battered
the construction of the BFP at the target depth. micropiles connected to new pile caps beneath each of
Piers M37, M39 and M42.
5.1 General Approach across all criteria. A summary of results from the pre-
production load test is presented in Table 4.0.
During micropile construction the bridge piers continued to
be supported on their original timber pile foundations. Table 4.0: Summary of pre-production test pile and load
Consequently, micropile construction had to be regulated test results
and closely observed to ensure the ongoing stability of the
bridge, especially during drilling through the sandy layers Creep from 1 to 10
where the existing timber piles were thought to be Test Movement (mm)
mins. (mm)
terminated. Once the micropiles were completed and load
ready to resist load, the new pile caps were to be cast in (kN) Allowable Measured Allowable Measured
place, but not yet connected to the existing pile caps until
such time as the new pile caps developed sufficient 300 6 1.19 1.00 0.02
strength to take the entire bridge loading. At this time the
bridge deck was to be shored in place (using the new pile 600 N/S 3.97 1.00 0.09
caps for foundation), the piers disconnected from their
1200 N/S 10.02 1.00 0.06
original foundations, the piers jacked upwards to restore
the deck to its pre-settlement profile, and finally the piers
were to be permanently connected to the new micropile- 1800 N/S 15.43 1.00 0.01
supported pile caps.
N/S – not specified
5.2 Micropile Design Approach 5.4 Installation of remedial bridge micropiles
Each micropile was designed to resist a moderately light The production drilling was completed using a low-mast
compressive load of 600 kN. However, in order to be drill rig in order to fit beneath the restrictive headroom and
arranged in a manner that accommodated the existing pile not interfere with the existing bridge piers. A double head
cap, every remedial micropile was battered at an angle to rotary percussive drilling system was used to advance the
vertical of between 1H:5V to 1H:6V and consequently, micropile casings through the overburden and into sound
due to the extreme depth of very poor soil the micropile rock. Caution was exercised throughout the drilling
design was governed by buckling resistance. The project process to minimize any movement of the bridge piers. A
consultants performed the buckling analysis and real-time bridge monitoring system was in place during
mandated that the contractor-designed micropiles have a the drilling operations. As soon as any movement was
minimum stiffness of 3860000 kN. observed, the installation sequence and methodology
In order to meet the stipulated stiffness, a 273 mm were modified if necessary. During installation of the
diameter permanent casing with 15.1 mm wall was majority of the remedial micropiles, particularly while the
incorporated into the micropile design. This casing casing was passing through the dense sandy layer at 15
doubled as the means by which the rock socket could be mbgs, the drilling process was modified, by necessity, to
protected from cave in from above, and was socketed a include tremie injection of a head of synthetic polymer
minimum of 500 mm into sound rock. Micropile drilling mud prior to any attempt to splice on the next
reinforcement consisted of a 76 mm diameter (517 MPa) segment of casing. This modified process was used in
threaded bar over the lowermost 6.5 m of micropile, sensitive areas in order to additionally stabilize the hole so
connected mechanically by a transition coupler to a 57 that the drill casings could be spliced without risk of native
mm diameter (517 MPa) threaded bar extending upwards soils piping or boiling into the casing and plugging off the
to the top of the micropile. Micropiles were designed in drill bit.
accordance with the US Department of Transportation
and US Federal Highway Administration, Micropile Design 5.5 Connecting the micropiles to the bridge
and Construction Guidelines, June 2000, using the load
factor design (LFD) method. The original remedial micropile design called for 14
production micropiles – 4 at Pier M37, 4 at Pier M39, and
5.3 Pre-Production Load Test 6 at Pier M42. Despite the best efforts of the micropile
crew, piling-induced movements continued and the
Recognizing the importance of verifying that the design micropile construction had to be suspended on more than
could meet the strict deflection under load criteria (given one occasion. During one stoppage in the work, the
that the new micropiles were to take the entirelty of the decision was made to proceed with construction of the
bridge loading at 3 piers), a sacrificial, pre-production new pile caps so that these, despite the fact that not every
micropile was constructed and load tested in static micropile was yet successfully constructed, could be used
compression. The test pile was installed vertically to to support new temporary shoring connected to the bridge
enable the compression loading to safely be resisted by a deck. This approach paid dividends as the micropiling was
frame tied down with 4 sacrificial, rock-socketed tension able to be re-commenced and completed without another
micropiles. The test micropile was socketed 3 m into stoppage in work. An additional unforeseen advantage of
sound rock and was incrementally loaded to 1800 kN (i.e. this approach was the ability, taking the load test results
3 times the design load) with acceptable performance into consideration, of the project consultant team to
 reduce the number of remedial micropiles at M42 from the REFERENCES
6 to 4, thereby saving the project from the time and cost of
installing the final 2 micropiles. Burke, G.K., 2012. The state of the practice of jet
grouting. Proceedings 4th International Conference on
Grouting and Deep Mixing, February 15-18, 2012,
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States; sponsored by
the Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil
Engineers.

Burke, G.K., 2009. Quality control considerations for jet

grouting. Geotechnical News, December 2009, BiTech
Publishers Ltd.

Burke, G.K. and Sehn, A.L., 2003. The influence of

ground improvement on geotechnical design.
ASCE/PENNDOT 20th Central PA Geotechnical
Conference, October 29-31, 2003.

EXP, 2009. Geotechnical Investigation – Backflow

Preventer, Flood Protection Landform, West Don
Lands, Ontario, Report prepared by EXP, Reference
Figure 7: Installation of bridge micropiles No. TG11-048, dated November 26, 2009.

GI-ASCE, 2009. Jet Grouting Guideline. Geo Institute of

6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ASCE, Grouting Committee- Jet Grouting Task Force,
American Society of Civil Engineers.
Multiple phases of specialty geotechnical construction
were performed – as remedial measures – at the West Gurpersaud, N., Bruce, J., and Montgomery, M, 2013. An
Don Lands Back Flow Preventer project site. The flexibility extensive jet grouting test program for a low
of both the micropiles and the jet grouting proved integral permeability barrier. Proceedings of the 66th Canadian
to the project’s success, as both were responsive, via Geotechnical Conference and the 11th Joint CGS/IAH-
quick adaptation where necessary, to the need to manage CNC Groundwater Conference, Montreal, Quebec,
further bridge structure movements. The jet grouting September 30 – October 2, 2013.
sequence and method were changed in response to
grouting-induced bridge movements without Klaus, K. and Bell, A., 2013. Ground Improvement, Third
compromising the performance of the finished product. Edition, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca
Similarly, both the sequencing and the installation method Raton, Florida.
of the remedial micropiles were modified throughout the
progress of the work to minimize piling-induced bridge
movements.

This project included successful completion of

overlapping jet grout columns to cut-off potential water
inflow and resist basal heave during excavation and
construction of the BFP. The permanent BFP foundation
system was changed from driven piles – which would
have compromised the impermeability of the base plug –
to micropiles, whose construction was modified to include
an extra step to repair the breach made during
installation, further proving the flexibility of this type of
piling method.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions

from Infrastructure Ontario, AECOM, Clearway
Construction, Elite Construction and other members of the
project team to the success of this challenging project. We
express our gratitude to the drill rig operators, grout plant
operators, labourers, supervisors and field engineers who
contributed towards the safety and success of this project.

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