001-45_127_NOV-DEC_LAYOUT_PT - Flipbook - Page 36
CONSTRUCTION
Executed through large-scale earthworks and environmental restoration, over 1,000,000 m³ of material was excavated, with nearly 70 per cent reused on-site, alongside dredging
and in-water works that enhanced ecological function and flood resilience.
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industrial mouth into a dynamic landscape capable of absorbing
peak 昀氀oodwaters safely.
Marine engineering and subterranean challenges
Constructing a naturalized river mouth alongside the shores of Lake
Ontario brought a complex array of marine engineering hurdles.
The site presented soft, waterlogged soils, high groundwater tables,
and challenging winter weather conditions.
EllisDon addressed the soft, unstable ground through extensive
surcharging—applying heavy loads to compress underlying soils
and prevent future settlement before permanent structures were
built. To maintain momentum through cold Canadian winters, the
team utilized heated enclosures overactive work zones to preserve
quality and keep critical paths on schedule.
“Marine construction always brings a high degree of
unpredictability because you’re constantly negotiating with water
levels, subsurface pressure, and shifting soils,” Manning notes.
“One of our major engineering wins came from value engineering.
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ELLISDON
River’s historic pinch point at the Keating Channel, EllisDon carved
out a new 1.2-kilometre river course featuring two distinct outlets
into Lake Ontario.
“Building a river in the middle of a major metropolitan area isn’t
something you get to do every day,” says Manning. “It required us to
completely rethink traditional civil execution. We weren’t just digging
a ditch; we were constructing a dynamic, living ecosystem that had to
be mathematically engineered to handle regulatory storm events while
looking and functioning like a natural river valley that has existed for
centuries.”
To achieve this, EllisDon deployed precision-guided excavation
using GPS technology across massive earthworks, ensuring the new
riverbed matched exact hydraulic and environmental contours. The
river design incorporates wetlands, meadows, and woodlands, reintroducing native habitats and urban biodiversity directly adjacent to
Toronto’s 昀椀nancial core.
The hydraulic design protects surrounding communities against
extreme weather events while transforming a rigid, channelized
