Innovation Summer 2025

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | 2024-2025

NICOMEN RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT Following the November 2021 floods in BC, the Highway 1 - Nicomen River Bridge Replacement project, near Spences Bridge, was undertaken to restore vital transportation infrastructure. Awarded to Kiewit Engineering Group Canada ULC under an Alliance delivery model, the 69-m, curved steel plate girder bridge was designed to withstand seismic forces, flood debris, and extreme scour, ensuring long-term durability with low-maintenance materials. Environmental protections included habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and Indigenous community involvement. The Nlaka’pamux communities, specifically the Nicomen Indian Band, were key supporters and collaborators on the project. The project also capitalized on TOFINO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Applying a collaborative approach for the design of the Tofino Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), WSP Canada Inc. used integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) treatment process, thereby reducing capital construction costs and overall lifecycle costs. Diverting sewage from the various existing collection systems and sending it to the new plant dramatically improves water quality in the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s traditional shellfish harvesting areas and critical coastal habitats, aligning with the District of Tofino’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The new WWTP became operational late August 2024, with NAC Constructors Ltd. successfully commissioning

PILOT DIGESTION OPTIMIZATION FACILITY Metro Vancouver has developed a Pilot Digestion Optimization Facility at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond to test ways of making wastewater treatment more efficient. This adaptable platform features 3 anaerobic “mini digesters” that let engineers experiment with different processing conditions, such as temperature, retention time, and other parameters. The digesters, which can be run in series or parallel, provide a controlled laboratory for optimizing processes and testing innovative technologies without compromising full-scale operations at the plant. The real-time data the facility generates will help Metro Vancouver make decisions about future wastewater investments, technologies, and best practices, towards the goals of reducing residuals volume, recovering more energy, maximizing capacity of existing infrastructure, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all while saving costs. Company: Brown and Caldwell Participants: Metro Vancouver: Parisa Chegounian, P.Eng.; Christopher Choy, P.Eng.; Lillian Zaremba, P.Eng.; Kelly Martin; Susanna Yik. Brown and Caldwell: Tyler Barber, P.Eng.; Farokh Kakar; Chris Muller PE. P hoto : S ubmitted by M etro V ancouver

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Summer 2025

Innovation