Tank Hill Project Wins Top Honors at ACEC-BC Awards

The Tank Hill Project has been awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for project excellence at the annual Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC) awards gala. In addition to securing the top provincial honor, the project received the Award of Excellence in the Bridges category.

The completed bridge enhances safety and reliability on the Trans-Canada Highway by eliminating the temporary level crossing and reducing train-related delays. Its success demonstrates collaborative leadership and technical innovation in restoring critical infrastructure following significant environmental impact.

Each year, ACEC-BC evaluates recently completed projects across eight categories, including transportation, municipal infrastructure, and energy. Category winners are then eligible for the Lieutenant Governor’s Award, which is granted to a single project representing the highest standard of engineering achievement in British Columbia.

Project Scope and Delivery

The project was delivered by the Tank Hill Alliance, a partnership between Ledcor, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Associated Engineering, and McElhanney Engineering Services. The team was tasked with rebuilding a critical corridor, following damage from the 2021 atmospheric river, within a constrained environment bounded by the Thompson River, steep terrain, and an active Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) mainline.

Key Evaluation Merits

The ACEC-BC recognized the Tank Hill Project based on the following criteria:

• Technical Excellence: The team evaluated 16 alignment options to address unstable glacial deposits and geometric constraints. Engineering solutions included the use of custom variable-depth girders and complex foundation designs. Construction sequencing allowed for uninterrupted rail operations and continuous highway traffic flow.
• Indigenous Participation: Indigenous economic involvement was integrated into all stages of delivery. This included the procurement of Indigenous subcontractors and suppliers, engagement with Elders and Cultural Monitors, and workforce skills development. The project also resulted in local infrastructure legacies, such as improvements to community recreational facilities.
• Collaborative Contracting: The team’s model replaced traditional adversarial contracting with a transparent, shared-goal structure. This streamlined coordination between the Ministry, engineering firms, constructors, and CPKC, allowing for rapid consensus on technical and environmental challenges.

The Tank Hill Alliance is comprised of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, Western Highways and Infrastructure Inc., a Ledcor subsidiary, McElhanney Engineering Services Ltd., and Associated Engineering Ltd.

Thank you to everyone involved for their hard work and commitment to this vital project.

Mammoet; KWH Constructors; BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit; Associated Engineering; McElhanney; Cook's Ferry Alliance; Eagle West Cranes; LFN Economic Development; Nicomen Indian Band – Traffic Control; Marcon Metalfab Inc.; All Span Engineering; Thurber Engineering Ltd.; DMD & Associates