Highway 11 Culvert Rehabilitation:
January 2018 CPD Project of the Month
Opened in 1952, Highway 400 quickly became one of Ontario’s busiest provincial motorways. Stretching northward from Toronto for over 226 kilometres, Highway 400 has seen a massive surge in use from daily commuter traffic to and from Toronto, year-round tourism into cottage and ski country, and local pleasure seekers escaping the urban landscape.
Residential and commercial development has also flourished in communities adjacent to the highway, including the city of Barrie, located approximately 75 kilometres north of Toronto. Over the last half-century, increased volume and inclement weather have taken a toll on the highway underpasses that span Barrie’s busy streets. To address this issue, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation formulated a plan to fix the crumbling infrastructure while looking ahead to future local growth.
At almost 1,785 kilometres long, Highway 11 is not only Ontario’s second-longest provincial highway, it’s also the gateway to cottage country for residents of Southern Ontario and tourists from all over the world who enjoy visiting the beauty of picturesque Muskoka Region, Lake Superior, and beyond to Rainy River.
Along with Highway 17, Highway 11 is a major arterial road that bears the weight of thousands of cars, trucks, and transport vehicles that traverse Northern Ontario. However, the highway and its support systems are also exposed to the harsh elements from typical Canadian winters, the spring runoff, and various unusual weather events.
During 2017, the 30.2-kilometre stretch of Highway 11 that runs between north of Severn River to south of Taylor Road at Bracebridge was in need of repair and rehabilitation. The work included:
- Multiple culvert repair
- Installation of new overhead signs
- Rehabilitation of the Muskoka Road 169 underpass
- All associated paving and marking
Upon completion, this portion of the highway would be renewed and refreshed to protect it from seasonal or unexpected flooding, and provide travelers with a better driving experience.
Contractor: OHL Construction Canada Inc.
After reviewing several bids, the Ministry of Ontario awarded OHL Construction Canada Inc. the $6.5 million contract to complete the job.
Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario OHL Construction Canada has worked on many high-profile projects, including the Highway 407 stations and northern tunnels of the recently opened Toronto – York Region subway extension.
Vendor: Sunbelt Rentals, Bracebridge, Ontario
As one of North America’s largest equipment rental companies, Sunbelt Rentals has more than 625 locations that serve British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Sunbelt supplies quality products, tools, and equipment in the commercial, residential, industrial, municipal, and specialized service industries, as well as to the weekend do-it-yourself handyman.
When OHL Construction Canada approached Sunbelt for product recommendations to complete the culvert rehabilitation portion of the Highway 11 project, the Sunbelt team came through with a complete set of solutions, including Fastcrete Ultra from CPD® Construction Products.
Product: CPD® Fastcrete Ultra
CPD® Fastcrete Ultra is a two-component polymer modified, fast-setting repair mortar. Similar to the colour of concrete, this product is also enhanced with a micro-silica and Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor® by Cortec to reduce rebar corrosion.
This makes Fastcrete Ultra perfect to use as a structural repair material for vertical, overhead, and horizontal concrete surfaces, whether on, above, or below grade.
Sample uses include parking garages, balconies, building envelopes, bridges, tunnels, dams, and industrial applications. Its bond strength, resistance to freeze thaw, and high compressive and flexural strengths provides the tough, durable performance needed to repair and rehabilitate the culverts along Highway 11 in a climate that sees high seasonal variance.
Project Outcome
Thanks to the team at OHL Construction Canada and Sunbelt Rentals, CPD® Fastcrete Ultra helped deliver a viable, long-lasting solution to repair the aging culverts along Highway 11, giving drivers a safe journey free from seasonal or unexpected highway flooding.
Since 1978, CPD® Construction Products has been supplying a wide range of construction products to contractors across Canada and around the world. Talk to our service team about which of our professional-grade products can help you with your next project!
