Churchill Rail Line Reconstruction using Tough Cell® Geocells
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This project dives into the challenges faced by the rural community of Churchill after their only source of daily commute in and out was compromised due to excessive flooding in 2017. Paradox provided a quick, sustainable remediation using Tough Cell® geocells, which could withstand the environmental challenges of Northern Manitoba while providing a long-standing solution to the rail line woes.
CORE CONCERNS:
Accessibility, Costly Repair, Extensive Downtime
APPLICATION:
Rail Line
CONDITIONS:
Washed-out Zones, Impassible
LOCATION:
Northern Manitoba | 2017
PROJECT OVERVIEW
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Paradox was contracted by the owner of the Hudson Bay Rail Line, the Arctic Gateway Group, to reconstruct the rail line after severe flooding damaged multiple sections in the spring of 2017. The communities in the areas were in dire need of quick remediation to restore normalcy for the 1,000 residents affected.
Paradox and their engineering partner Stratum Logics designed and implemented a solution to remediate the washed-out areas of the rail line using Tough Cell® —NPA geocells. This technology allowed for full restoration within the short construction season, over permafrost and minimized impact to the environmentally sensitive environment.
THE MISSION
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To fix the washed-out areas of the railway line, restore access to the community, reduce future maintenance, and provide a long-term solution that can withstand the harsh environmental conditions of Northern Manitoba.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
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A total of 1.25km of washed-out areas were remediated in a liner construction sequence in under 60 days over permafrost. Additional erosion control measures were implemented to mitigate future flood damage.
THE PROBLEM
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A port city on the Hudson Bay 156 miles from the nearest town,
Churchill is an extremely remote community that has solely relied on the rail line for entry and exit since 1929. The spring of 2017 brought significant flooding that badly damaged areas of the line. This shut down rail operations and isolated Churchill from the rest of the world.
The only access in and out was via air transport. This caused spikes in the cost of food and medical supplies and restricted the movement of residents, which negatively affected their overall well-being.
Paradox took on the challenge of remediating numerous wash-out zones to get the rail back up and running. After assessing the damages, Paradox and their engineering partner deemed Tough Cell® geocells the best solution to remediate, reinforce, and mitigate against future damage caused by the harsh weather in Northern Manitoba.
With the underlying permafrost affected by the flood, the solution
included additional reinforcement to stabilize and reinforce the area.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Washed-out areas of the rail line.
Preparation of the subgrade before laying the first Tough Cell® layer.
Laying of the first Tough Cell® layer.
Installation of new culverts.
Installation of the top Tough Cell® layer.
Filling and compacting the top layer of Tough Cell®.
PROJECT SPECS
TOTAL AREA
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1.25km
(13 washout zones)
Total Area of Railway Line
PRODUCT
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330-150-C
330-150-D
Tough Cell®
NPA Geocell
INFILL
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19,100m3
Sand
THE SOLUTION
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Paradox reconstructed the rail line within a short time-frame using Tough Cell® NPA geocells. This technology can undergo cycles of extensive load due to its weight distribution capabilities.
The solution allowed for the use of locally sourced aggregates, thereby reducing the environmental impact of hauling material.
THE BENEFITS
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COST EFFICIENCIES:
The client realized significant savings, both in upfront capital expenditure for remediation and in ongoing long-term
maintenance costs.
PROJECT TIMELINESS:
By utilizing Tough Cell® technology, the client benefitted from an expedited project timeline, restoring access in under 60 days.
ENVIRONMENTAL WINS:
- Area of permafrost protected: 25,000 m2
- Volume of peat left undisturbed
(avoiding the release of CO2): 50,000m3 - Marginal material used as infill: 15,000m3