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MTE Consultants Acquires RIZZ Engineering, Strengthening Expertise in Structural Design and Precast Concrete

Fairway Bridge
Infrastructure

Fairway Bridge

Services

Surveying

Key personnel

Steve Shugg

Project overview

In 2012 the Region of Waterloo completed the development of a new bridge that linked Kitchener’s east and Cambridge’s north sections. Construction of the bridge is considered an engineering accomplishment as it was built with a technique not used in Ontario for over 20 years. The bridge is a poured-in-place, slip form, post- tensioned segmental bridge.

The span was constructed onsite in segments, rather than being assembled with prefabricated pieces. This is a common method for a bridge of this type, but unusual for Ontario, where only about a dozen exist. It is also the first brand-new span bridge over the Grand River in Waterloo Region since 1963.

MTE's Involvement

MTE provided surveying services for the development and construction of the Fairway Bridge.

MTE’s scope of work included layout of 2 km of road, a culvert crossing Randal Creek and two roundabouts. The bridge decks spans 247 m of land and water and is 20 m above the river. The method for building this bridge was also unique in that construction began simultaneously at each end of the bridge, until they eventually met in the middle.

MTE played a pivotal role in this construction method by laying out all the critical components and providing the bridge’s engineer with strict measurements of the horizontal and vertical elevations. This was essential for ensuring that the two sections joined together correctly in the middle. MTE’s survey team used survey grade GPS for control establishment and some of the layout on the roads. A high precision total station and digital level were used to layout and collect precise information on the bridge. This was necessary due to the tight design tolerance. With this equipment MTE was able to constantly measure horizontally and vertically to the millimeter.