Heavy-Duty Log Yard and Access Road Reinforced with Tough Cell® Geocells
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This project focuses on the challenges faced by the client due to extremely soft, poor soil conditions that supported heavy logging activities for many years. It elaborates on the Tough Cell® geocell solution that solved key access, safety and reliability issues.
CORE CONCERNS:
Accessibility, Safety, Reliability
APPLICATION:
Yard and Access Road
CONDITIONS:
Unsafe, Wet and Muddy
LOCATION:
April-September, 2013
PROJECT OVERVIEW
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Paradox was hired by a long established logging company to repair
and reinforce their log yard. For many years, Canfor’s Fort St. John’s mill battled extremely muddy and contaminated soil conditions as it supported approximately 100 truckloads daily. This resulted in costly delays in lumber production due to inaccessibility.
Paradox engineered, supplied and installed a turn-key reinforcement solution using Tough Cell® NPA geocells for the log yard and storage areas. The solution solved their key accessibility, safety, and reliability issues and boosted productivity.
THE MISSION
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To repair, reinforce and restore reliable access to the log yard and hot deck without hampering productivity during restoration activities.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
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The vast size of the project required 6 months to complete. As temporary closure was not an option, Paradox completed the project in three phases to ensure uninterrupted client operations. Working on different areas simultaneously, the total job was completed in the allocated time.
THE PROBLEM
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The log yard was in a deplorable condition especially during spring and fall when the ground was wet. The yard was extremely muddy and movement of heavy loading equipment was restricted. Initial excavation of the yard revealed broken logs, bark, and other debris. Mixed with loose clay over the subgrade, this made for an uneven and unsafe surface that could not effectively support the weight of heavy logging equipment. This frequently caused extreme delivery delays and when yard accessibility was severely compromised, production ground to a halt.
Canfor asked Paradox to design a long-term solution using Tough
Cell® geocells to reinforce the site and reduce future maintenance
needs. This confinement technology withstands the rigors of daily heavy vehicular traffic with minimal creep, potholes and other subsurface failures. After the initial consultation and site visit, Paradox, in collaboration with Stratum Logics, engineered a three-phase solution to support continued operations during implementation.
I’ve been managing mills across Canada for over 25 years. The Fort St. John log yard had the most challenging yard conditions that I’ve come across. The Paradox reinforcement solution is proving to be the only affordable long term solution.”
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Hot deck before construction with geocells
CAT 988 loader on the completed Phase 1 surface
Phase 2 yard prior to construction with Tough Cell® geocells
Phase 2-yard, Tough Cell® geocells being infilled
Completed phase 2 yard
Phase 3 geotextile and Tough Cell® installation
PROJECT SPECS
TOTAL AREA
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Phase 1: 14,700sqm
Phase 2: 27,900sqm
Phase 3: 57,900sqm
Hot deck and log yard
PRODUCT
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330-150-C
330-150-D
Tough Cell®
NPA Geocell | Woven and nonwoven geotextile
INFILL
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550-600mm
Gravel
THE SOLUTION
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Paradox implemented the project in three phases. Phase 1 repaired
the hot deck, and phases 2 and 3 repaired the log yard in two
defined areas.
Tough Cell® geocells were used for remediation in all three areas, which provided a stable, smooth and renewed surface for
improved operations.
THE BENEFITS
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COST SAVINGS:
Canadian Forest Products (Canfor) Fort St. John’s facility is now easily accessible year-round with the equipment required to ensure uninterrupted production.
Average annual cost savings include:
■ $50K in fuel
■ $125K in loader maintenance
■ $75K in tires and wearable parts
■ $750K avoided production losses