Ultra-Cor and Bolt-A-Plate team up on multi-use crossing for residential development in Ladysmith, BC

May 31, 2023

Our first Ultra-Cor installation in Western Canada is a 19.4 m stream crossing for a private residential development in Ladysmith, BC, near Nanaimo. The multi-use Holland Creek crossing also incorporates two Bolt-A-Plate Round tunnels to connect a recreational trail loop in the area.

Buried Metal Bridge built with minimized habitat impact
The crossing was built without disruption to the creek. Our wide-span, open-bottom designs like this allow for natural streambeds with excellent open-flow hydraulic and fish passage properties.

Inconsistent bedrock and weather created some challenges
Unconfirmed foundations on this project created some complexities and a Geotechnical Consultant was brought in once it was determined that a regular footing would not work in a couple locations due to the bedrock falling off in some areas of the banks. The footings were redesigned with supportive piles.

Ultra-Cor Structural Steel Plate selected for low cover and heavier backfill
Although this stream crossing’s 19.4 m span requirement was well within Super-Cor’s 25 m range, our deepest corrugated Ultra-Cor was selected due to the low height of cover and heavier unit weight of the backfill.

While a lack of bedrock created problems in some areas, the presence of bedrock created issues in others, causing the locations of the Bolt-A-Plate Tunnels to be moved, with engineering reviews and new drawings to show the changes in the layout.

Weather also created some issues with the engineered backfill. The stockpiles need to be covered and, at times, heated to stop them from saturating.

Despite the delays, the faster assembly and construction sequence of Ultra-Cor Structural Steel Plate helped the project make up some time and the trails are expected to be re-opened for the summer season. We’ll follow up with another Project Profile once it is complete.

Ultra-Cor creates the world’s strongest Buried Metal Bridges
With the introduction of Ultra-Cor, AIL has taken engineered structural plate to new dimensions in capability and performance. Ultra-Cor combines all the advantages of lightweight construction with previously unheard-of strength and durability for the largest and most extreme applications. Spans can exceed 35 m (115′). More about Ultra-Cor >