By Ashley Karen
Hatch is one of the best global firms in project management, professional services, and engineering. It won the Tunnelling Association of Canada’s Project of the Year Award (up to C$100M) for its unique double arch replacement and rehabilitation of the Mount Royal Tunnel. The project was part of the public transit initiative, the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), that includes a new automatic light metro network formed of 26 stations connected by 67 km of track.
Hatch also won TAC’s Photo of the Year Award with a photo of the future McGill station tunnel taken by its engineer Bertin Caron-Boulé. The image shows the contractor crew establishing shotcrete as part of an advance within the second sequence of the “Sequential Demolition Method” used for the Mount Royal Tunnel replacement.
The Mount Royal Tunnel, completed in 1917, is a vital transportation artery that operates under the city of Montreal, Quebec, connecting the island of Montreal to the northern suburbs of the city. The southernmost 540 m of the existing 5 km long Mount Royal Tunnel required replacement due to damage induced by infiltration of chloride-laden groundwater, as well as an additional 290 m of the tunnel that required rehabilitation. Hatch was accountable for the design of the work, while a collaborative venture that included Hatch supervised its implementation by the NouvLR consortium.
The Sequential Demolition Method is innovative double arch replacement and rehabilitation method that involves building a new tunnel inside the existing one. This method was essential to make sure that the Mount Royal Tunnel remained operational throughout the building process. The new tunnel will adjust the REM’s electric light metro system, supplying commuters with a faster and more efficient way to get around the city. Good cooperation between Hatch, NouvlR, CCH, and CDPQ was the main factor in the successful implementation of this innovative tunnelling method.
The Hatch’s Global Director, Jean Habimana, stated: “We are thrilled to receive this award from the Tunnelling Association of Canada. Our team worked tirelessly to design and implement this innovative solution, which will help modernize Montreal’s public transportation system and provide commuters with a reliable, and sustainable mode of transportation.”
Hatch’s innovative approach to the Mount Royal Tunnel project indicates the dedication of the company to sustainability and environmental stewardship. It is expected that the REM project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35,000 tons per year, making it a vital segment of the city’s actions to combat climate change.
The TAC Canada’s Canadian Project of the Year Award (up to C$100M) acknowledges outstanding achievements in the underground infrastructure and tunnelling fields. Hatch’s double arch replacement and rehabilitation method for the Mount Royal Tunnel is an exceptional model of creative thinking and engineering excellence.
For more information about this project, please visit the Hatch project website.
