West LRT, Calgary, Canada

The 8.2km West LRT, a line which will run between 10 Street and 73 Street SW, witnessed start of construction in October 2009 and is expected to be completed by December 2012.

The line will serve communities located west of the downtown. It will have six stations which include Sunalta, Shaganappi Point, Westbrook, 45 Street, Sirocco and 69 Street.

The LRT project was initiated to fulfil the transit requirements of the area in the next 20 years.

The City of Calgary Council is the owner and operator of the line.

The area currently has a population of about 90,000 which is expected to exceed 120,000 in the next 20 years.

Commercial services on the West LRT are expected to begin in December 2012.

Calgary line project history

The functional study on West LRT was prepared in 1983 and approved by the council in 1987. An updated report prepared in 1990 recommended that the city of Calgary construct the line in a single stage.

The city council approved the rail line project and funding in 2007. The LRT project was launched and acquisition of lands began in February 2008. The city administration approved revisions to the alignment of the line in June 2008.

The extension project includes construction of 4.3km at-grade track, 1.5km elevated track, 2.4km tunnel and portal track. It includes construction of six LRT stations, which consist of one elevated, one trenched, one underground and three at-grade stations.

It will also have two park and ride facilities as well as two transit bus terminal facilities. The project also includes construction of pedestrian bridges, utility relocations, underpass structures and associated roadwork.

Construction of the West LRT

The $700m West LRT design-build contract was awarded to SNC-Lavalin Constructors in October 2009. The construction started in February 2010.

Assembling of the launching truss for construction at the elevated guideway, from Shaw Millennium Park to the Crowchild Trail, was completed in May 2010. Construction on the interchange began with the opening of Sarcee Trail detour road in June 2010.

The first segment of the elevated guideway in Shaw Millennium Park was completed in July.

The external envelope of the new West Calgary High School was completed in September 2010. The centre pier on LRT bridge over the Sarcee Trail was completed in October 2010. Construction of two bridges at 42nd Street and 45th Street SW were completed at the end of 2010.

The LRT tunnel guideway was completed in April 2011. Construction of track work on 26 Street SW was completed in May 2011. The crews have completed construction of the fourth and final track crossing at Christie Park Gate by September 2011. Construction continues on Sirocco Station and four other intersections currently.

The speed limit throughout the construction period will be 50km/h.

Contractors involved in the city line project

The contractors involved in the construction of West LRT include SLG, a joint venture of SNC-Lavalin Constructors and Graham Construction. SLG was assigned to complete the elevated guideway from downtown Calgary to Bow Trail.

The scope of work included construction of a 1.5km stretch consisting of 36 piers, 444 precast segments and one bent structure. It was completed in May 2011.

MMM Group and Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers are part of the SNCL team which was awarded the design-build contract for the West LRT line extension.

SNCL established four construction joint ventures which include SLG-SNCL/Graham, SLC-SNCL/Cana, SLT-SNCL/SNCL Constructors and SLE-SNCL/ENMAX for the construction of LRT stations, LRT trackwork, LRT traction power, signalling and communications respectively.

DEAL will provide the launching truss for the erection of precast segments. DYWIDAG Systems International will supply the necessary stressing jacks as well as the multiplane anchorage system.

Goodco Z-Tech supplies bearings and expansion joints. SIKA and Symons Dayton Superior are the epoxy suppliers. Prepackaged grout is supplied by Target and precast producers are Con-Force and Armtec.

Rolling stock

The C trains operated by Calgary Transit will be used in the West LRT extension line. The trains have been in service since 1981 on Calgary transit lines.