By: Atlantic Industries Limited
Project Summary
Replacing an undersized culvert with a structural steel plate bridge arch and Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) retaining walls gave West Fraser a stronger, more cost-effective crossing on a busy Alberta resource road. The project demonstrates how structural steel plate systems can improve constructability while supporting heavy industrial traffic.
Keeping a Critical Resource Road Moving
Infrastructure that serves the forestry industry must perform every day, in every season. When an aging culvert on a heavily traveled resource road northwest of Edson, Alberta, no longer met the site’s needs, West Fraser turned to a solution designed for long-term performance.
Submitted by Atlantic Industries Limited, the project replaced an existing round culvert over Emerson Creek with a large-span structural steel plate bridge arch corrugated steel arch and Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) retaining walls. The result is a durable crossing that supports heavy industrial traffic while providing a more efficient design for the owner.
Designed for Heavy Resource Road Traffic
The crossing carries a busy industrial resource road used to support forestry operations. To meet the site’s demands, the project team installed a structural steel plate bridge arch measuring 40.2 feet wide, 16.3 feet high, and 77.7 feet long. Approximately 20 feet of cover separates the top of the structure from the roadway above, allowing the crossing to safely support substantial loads.
The project also included replacing a second culvert farther along the roadway with a 12.1-foot corrugated steel arch, improving drainage at another location along the route.
Large-span steel structural plate systems continue to provide engineers with flexible solutions for crossings that demand strength, durability, and efficient construction.
GRS Retaining Walls Created a More Efficient Design
A key feature of the project was the use of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) retaining walls at both ends of the structural steel plate bridge arch.
The near-vertical walls reduced the overall length of both the arch and its footing structures while still accommodating the roadway width required for industrial traffic. This approach helped create a more economical crossing without sacrificing performance.
Combining GRS technology with buried bridge systems demonstrates how corrugated steel solutions can adapt to challenging site conditions while helping owners control project costs.
Collaboration Led to a Successful Outcome
The success of the project resulted from close coordination between the owner, designers, supplier, and contractor.
Hinton Wood Products, a West Fraser company, served as the owner. The project was designed by Allnorth Consulting in conjunction with Terratech Consulting Ltd. Landmark Solutions Ltd. completed construction, while Atlantic Industries Limited supplied both the structural steel plate bridge arch and the GRS wall materials. Construction began during the summer of 2025 and finished in the fall of the same year.
The project submission also recognized the strong working relationship between the project team and the owner, specifically acknowledging Cole Gorner of Hinton Wood Products for his involvement and support throughout construction.
Built for Long-Term Performance
Industrial resource roads require dependable infrastructure that can withstand demanding traffic and environmental conditions. By replacing an undersized culvert with a large-span structural steel plate bridge arch, the project team delivered a crossing designed to serve West Fraser’s operations for years to come.
Projects like this highlight why engineers continue to specify corrugated steel structures for transportation infrastructure. When paired with innovative solutions like GRS retaining walls, structural steel plate systems can improve constructability, reduce material quantities, and provide reliable long-term performance.
To learn more about Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil technology, visit the Federal Highway Administration’s GRS-IBS Program.