in : Projects
During construction of the projects works, Kontur provided review of the site preparation works, review of the existing site and soil conditions at the location of the outriggers of the crane truck, crane lift site reviews, and geotechnical recommendations related to the temporary excavation side slopes.
To address the sinkhole, BCIT decided to convert the currently culverted portion of Guichon Creek that passes beneath that area to an open-channel structure, for which Kontur presented three design concepts for the support of the proposed open channel. Additionally, Kontur provided geotechnical consultation and recommendations for temporary excavations, groundwater control, stripping to suitable subgrade, and engineered fills.
Over a number of months, a temporary channel to divert the creek around the area was installed and then excavation to create a new permanent channel was constructed. The new channel needed to be designed that improved the flow to allow salmonids to navigate past the weir to this new section of the creek for the first time. At the end of December 2023, the creek flowed down the new channel for the first time. During construction of the projects works, Kontur provided review of the site preparation works, review of the existing site and soil conditions at the location of the outriggers of the crane truck, crane lift site reviews, and geotechnical recommendations related to the temporary excavation side slopes.
Landscaping, planting, and public realm improvements will transform the banks into a richer habitat and student friendly environment. This restoration creates new habitat for wildlife and allow salmon to navigate further along the creek. Designing a stream channel with habitat values while maintaining drainage requirements and building amongst existing infrastructure was challenging and required understanding all aspects of requirements and finding opportunities to optimize each one.
Guichon Creek flows into Still Creek, Burnaby Lake, and Brunette River before finally discharging into the Fraser River, and runs directly through BCIT’s Burnaby campus. Named for a local pioneer family, the creek was a popular fishing spot in the early 1900s. As the century wore on, Guichon Creek was dammed, urbanized and the lower half was culverted, travelling underground through the north-east quadrant of the campus.
Through various restoration activities by the City of Burnaby and BCIT, such as re-establishing streamside vegetation, enhancing in-stream habitat, and improving water quality, Guichon Creek is once again a fish bearing stream. The new daylighted section of the creek extends the existing creekside ecosystem and allows for safe fish passage for chum salmon providing spawning habitat through creek restoration.
