Knowledge CentreTechnical Resources SearchConference PapersCLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION: CASE STUDIES OF ROADS IN NORTHERN CANADA

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION: CASE STUDIES OF ROADS IN NORTHERN CANADA

Abstract

Access to communities and resource developments in northern Canada often relies on a single all-weather or winter road. Warming trends in recent years can put these indispensable access routes at risk by impacting road structures that overlie permafrost, and by shortening the duration of winter roads built on ice or seasonally frozen ground. This paper presents two case studies of all-weather and winter roads in northern Canada to describe the issues pertaining to the impacts of climate change and the adaptation strategies that have been or are being implemented to cope with the impacts. 1. The Yellowknife Highway (NWT Highway 3) reconstruction. The design addressed those features of embankment performance over the long term that represent the greatest risk of uncontrolled maintenance and safety. The following features were adopted to mitigate climate change effects and retard the rate of thaw: a. The core of the embankment comprises a minimum of 2 metres of quarried rockfill, providing internal strength to even out future settlements; b. A sacrificial shoulder and flat sideslopes were provided on the embankment as it was recognized that the permafrost soils supporting the slopes would be the first to thaw; c. A snow management system was adopted to encourage removal of snow from the sideslopes wherever practical; d. Sideslopes as gentle as 4 or 6 horizontal to 1 vertical were adopted for low fills to push standing water away from the toe and reduce snow drifting; and e. A ground temperature monitoring system was implemented to track permafrost response. 2. The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road serving the diamond mines. The development of new technologies and strategies to optimize the shortening operating season are described. The paper also discusses the aspects of seasonal truck weight limits that are vulnerable to climate change and possible adaptation strategies. 

Conference Paper Details

Session title:
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
Author(s):
Robyn V. McGregor
Masood Hassan
Don Hayley
Topics:
Climate change
Year:
2008