Our Projects
Raising the Bar at Every Turn
Engineering Design and Innovation
Every project that Harbourside undertakes is backed by our commitment to engineering excellence. Our work is characterized by thorough communication and comprehensive design. We see the whole picture. At every step, Harbourside redefines the meaning of quality engineering. With seasoned professionals from every sector of the industry, we are able to solve even the most technically challenging projects. Both throughout Atlantic Canada, and on the international stage, our work has been recognized by highest supervising bodies. The award-winning projects below are a testament to the calibre of the engineering performed at Harbourside.
Burgoyne Bridge Erection
The Burgoyne bridge is one of three crossings that span Twelve Mile Creek. It is an important transportation artery for the Niagara area, Ontario. By 2010, it was recommended that the bridge be replaced, and Harbourside was contacted by Pomerleau and Structal as a subconsultant to handle construction phasing and unique launch and design approaches, which began in 2014. After completion in 2016, Harbourside was awarded the Award of Excellence at the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Gala for the project in 2017.
THE BIG LIFT: Angus L. MacDonald Redecking Project
The existing deck and stiffening truss of the Angus L. Macdonald (ALM) Bridge, spanning over the Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, were nearing the end of their service life and needed replacement. The project consisted of the design of the new suspended deck and stiffening truss, as well as the analysis of the bridge during erection and the design of the main erection equipment. Harbourside received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering in 2018 for its work on The Big Lift.
East River & Sydney River Arch Bridges
Harbourside was engaged by the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to conduct full assessments on the East River Bridge in Sheet Harbour and the Sydney River Bridge in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. A cost-comparison between rehabilitation and replacement was put forward, deeming a full replacement as most effective option for both. Harbourside completed the detailed design of replacement structures for the two sites, along with providing construction engineering services for the demolition of the existing bridges.
Northwest River Bridge Replacement
Public Works and Government Services issued a call for proposals in 2014 for the replacement of the Northwest River Bridge, located within Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland. The project objective was to remove and replace the existing bridge and to realign the approaches on each side of the bridge to current NL-DOTW standards. Harbourside was also responsible for the design of the temporary sheet pile retaining walls along each approach, and the phasing for the extension of the golf course underpass structure immediately east of the river bridge.
Vimy Memorial Bridge Erection
The Vimy Memorial Bridge (formerly the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge) is a multiple space-truss arch bridge that spans across the Rideau River in Ontario. The design of the bridge was completed by Parsons, while the general contractor for the project was Horseshoe Hill Construction. Harbourside Engineering Consultants provided the erection engineering for the project, completing the structure in July of 2014. The innovative design and erection method, designed by Harbourside, won the 2014 Engineers Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering.
Wagner Brook Bridge
In 2013, Harbourside worked with Alvan Construction to design the new Wagner Brook bridge in Queen’s County, Nova Scotia. The original tender called a solution requiring significant costly in-water work, so Harbourside worked with Alva Construction to develop an alternate design following project award that spanned the full water width with a single structure and perched the piled abutments out of the water. Along with a superior final product, the alternate design provided significant cost savings to our client.
Waverley Road Rapid Bridge Replacements
Waverley Road is a high traffic density artery for commuters traveling from Waverley to Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Harbourside Engineering Consultants was hired to develop and design panel bridge abutments for two separate structures: the Little Rawdon River Bridge and the Golden Brook Bridge. Harbourside accomplished the rapid replacement of the existing timber bridges using precast modular footings, beams seats and ballast walls. The existing timber bridges were each removed and replaced in two days.
Sangster Bridge Demolition
Harbourside worked with Dexter Construction on the demolition of the Sangster Bridge in Hants County, Nova Scotia, in 2010. The original demolition plan (not provided by Harbourside) proposed a temporary in-water support and lifted the bridge out in two sections due to the limited crane sizes available. Harbourside instead developed a demolition plan that supported one end of the bridge on modular barge units, allowing the bridge to be floated to one approach and demolished in sections on land.
Larry Uteck Interchange
The Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal sought to improve the interchange at Larry Uteck Boulevard between Exits 2 and 3 in Bedford. Harbourside Engineering Consultants provided the structural bridge design services for this project. A preliminary design report detailing three fully developed structural options, complete with capital cost estimates and a final recommendation, was provided to NSTIR. The project began in 2008, and construction was completed in the summer of 2010.
Ramp 9 Structure Demolition and Overload Analysis, Halifax Approach
The Ramp 9 Structure Demolition and Overload Analysis project entailed the detailed demolition design of a post-tensioned concrete box structure in the north end of Halifax, Nova Scotia, adjacent to the MacKay Bridge. Harbourside Engineering Consultants developed two systems to demolish the structure: one that involved braced pile bents to support the structure during demo from the ground, and one for the spans crossing over the roads and bridges below. Harbourside Engineering also conducted an overload review, including a full structural analysis of the structure.
Tufts Cove Cooling Water Intake Structure, Floating Analysis
Dexter Construction engaged Harbourside Engineering Consultants in 2009 as part of a circulating water improvement at Nova Scotia Power’s Tufts Cove site in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Harbourside conducted a floating analysis of the large concrete intake structure that was fabricated on the Halifax side of the Harbour but needed to be floated into position at the Tufts Cove site on the Dartmouth. Tufts Cove provides essential power throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Highfield Park Pedestrian Bridge
Harbourside Engineering Consultants was engaged in 2009 by the Halifax Regional Municipality for a pedestrian crossing across Highway 111, from Highfield Park to the Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. A 45-meter single span steel plate girder pedestrian bridge was designed by Harbourside, located adjacent to the existing Burnside Drive underpass structure, allowing for a future widening of Highway 111 below from four lanes of traffic to six.
Alternate Dock Facility Viaduct, Marine Atlantic
The Alternate Dock Facility Viaduct at Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland, was completed while the principals of Harbourside were still employed at CBCL Limited, from 2008 to 2009. Project staging and phasing was an important aspect of the design due to the tight site, existing infrastructure, and the need to keep the adjacent Gulf Span Dock operational throughout construction. The project was completed on-time and on-budget with no disruption to the operation of the ferry facility, including the Gulf Span Dock.
Spanks River Bridge
In 2008, a single lane aging through truss bridge was damaged by a snowplough in rural Nova Scotia. The condition of the existing structure necessitated rapid replacement. Harbourside undertook the design of the new bridge structure, adjacent to the original bridge. The Spanks Bridge is now a 40-meter simple span steel plate girder bridge. Due to perched bedrock conditions on one side of the structure, semi-integral piled abutments were designed to support the three composite steel plate girder superstructures.
Davison Bridge
The Davison Bridge in Hants County, Nova Scotia, was the first project to be fully completed by Harbourside Engineering Consultants after its founding in 2008. Dexter Construction requested that Harbourside complete a preliminary design of an alternate bridge design, in attempt to minimize the required size of the abutments. Harbourside re-designed the Davison structure, allowing Dexter to gain approval of the alternate from NS Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The alternate design and construction were completed within the original construction schedule.
Midgell Bridge Replacement
While working for another consultant in 2006, the principals of Harbourside Engineering Consultants designed a replacement bridge over the Midgell River in King’s County, Prince Edward Island. Harbourside’s deliverables included tender and construction documents for the new bridge, as well as for the temporary supports, construction phasing, and horizontal launch details. Completing the replacement in only two days with minimal highway closures ensured that this main thoroughfare was kept active and traffic was impacted as little as possible.