Deepwells Archives

LRT Extension Project in Toronto

Dan Carpenter October 27, 2023

WJ keep Toronto Moving

The expansion of the Toronto Light Rail Transit (LRT) network has provided WJ with a steady stream of work since WJ Canada was formed in 2016, work which continues to this day.

Throughout 2022 WJ undertook a variety of pumping tests and other hydrogeological investigations at a number of key sites along the LRT alignment. Alongside these investigatory works, WJ have provided robust dewatering solutions to maximize the drawdown at the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) intervention sites.

TBM Interventions

These interventions are locations along the alignment where maintenance is performed on the cutting face of the TBM, and therefore, for safety reasons, zero hydrostatic pressure is required. This requites an extensive and robust dewatering system – something WJ are experts in providing.

In addition to investigatory and dewatering works, an extensive array of groundwater monitoring wells was installed along the alignment to be used for pre-commissioning testing and system monitoring.

LOCATION: Toronto

Eglinton Station, TTC interchange, Toronto

Dan Carpenter April 25, 2021

Eglinton Crosstown LRT

The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (ECLRT) project consists of almost 20km of light rail transit running through the heart of Toronto, from Mount Dennis in the West to Kennedy in the East.

The project has been one of the most technically challenging construction projects in Toronto’s recent history, and one of the largest scale dewatering projects WJ have undertaken globally in our 40 year history and one that we are proud to have been part of.

Eglinton Station – A Technical and Logistical Challenge

One of our most recent involvements in the project is on the Eglinton Interchange Station. Eglinton Station is one of the busiest stations on the existing TTC subway, and the new Eglinton Crosstown LRT line will be constructed underneath the existing live subway tunnel. As if this doesn’t already make for an extremely challenging project, the area around Eglinton Station is already heavily developed with numerous tall condo and office towers around one of the most congested intersections in the city.

Fortunately WJ are accustomed to this technically and logistically challenging projects, and installed a number of inclined large diameter deepwells and wellpoints in to the underlying strata to lower the standing groundwater level.

Meeting project constraints

WJ had to work very closely with consultants and engineers from the many stakeholders involved in the project to demonstrate that dewatering underneath this critical piece of Toronto’s infrastructure could reduce the overall risk for the project and allow for time-saving shoring alternatives to be considered for the TTC subway box construction.

Another Successful Project

The WJ Canada team is very proud to be a part of the successful dewatering and excavation beneath the Yonge-Eglinton interchange.

LOCATION: Toronto
MAIN CONTRACTOR: Metrolinx

Finch West LRT Project, Toronto

Dan Carpenter February 8, 2021

The Dewatering Vendor of Choice for Toronto LRT Projects

The success of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Light Rail Transit) project (also known as Line 5) in Toronto, where we have provided dewatering services to great effect on 12 of the 14 stations, has led to WJ becoming the dewatering vendor of choice for large LRT projects in the city.

Finch West LRT

Building on the success of this project, WJ have recently begun work on the Finch West LRT project. The Finch West Project (also known as Line 6) continues the expansion of public transit services in Toronto and is expected to carry some 40,000 passengers per day by 2031. Our initial works on the project will cover the two new underground station that are due to be constructed: the new terminus at Humber College and the new interchange terminus at Finch West, where the new line will connect with the Line 2 extension to York University.

Finch West Station

The Finch West Station includes a deep connection to the existing subway station and an underground track crossing – in short a deeply complex project, that will require the installation of deep wells, wellpoints and eductor wells. Fortunately these types of projects are second nature to WJ and perfectly demonstrate our creative and flexible approach to providing successful and efficient dewatering solutions that we have shown on thousands of project in Canada and elsewhere across the globe!

Humber College Station

The Humber College station, located adjacent to Highway 27 will be another opportunity to demonstrate many of the dewatering techniques that were used to great effect on the deep excavations of the Eglinton Crosstown project.

We are proud to be given the opportunity to contribute to this exciting project, and the continued expansion of public transit projects in Toronto, and look forward to its successful completion, and having the opportunity to hop on board!

LOCATION: Toronto
CLIENT: Metrolinx

WJ wellpoint installation at UOIT September 2019

Cross Cut Completion at Oakwood Station

WJ Group Admin July 18, 2019

The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (ECLRT) project consists of 19.7 km of light rail transit running along Eglinton Avenue from Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy in the east. The project is being designed and constructed by Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS).

With such an important and flagship infrastructure project, under constant public scrutiny, given the build disruption to local communities, the stakes were high. CTS needed a true water management partner who would work with them right through to the end. And that’s where WJ came in.

WJ was called in from the UK to take a look at dewatering requirements of the Eglinton Crosstown Project – a challenging commission, which combines difficult dewatering conditions with innovative construction techniques. Several of the stations within the Eglinton project are being constructed using a unique soil mining technique, known as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. This meant that our dewatering solutions had to be just as innovative in order to succeed.

Right from the start, the Oakwood main entrance access (called the cross-cut) was flagged as the most challenging aspect of the project. A silty, low-permeability soil matrix that fines towards the bottom of the excavation was located just above a clay interface. Using, wellpoints, eductors, and deep wells, installed from the road surface and from confined spaces in TBM tunnels and mined caverns, WJ was able to complete this substantial dewatering feat, without any delay to the CTS mining schedule.

As everyone in mining knows: the mining can never stop!

WJ ensured it never did.

LOCATION: Oakwood Station, Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit
CLIENT: Crosslinx Transit Solutions
MAIN CONTRACTOR: CTS

Bromley South Central, London

Dan Carpenter October 9, 2017

This contract took WJ to Bromley, in the heart of South London, to take part in a new major regeneration project.

Royal Hospital For Sick Children, Edinburgh

Dan Carpenter October 9, 2017

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children has been based on it’s existing site in the heart of Edinburgh since 1895, however in 2005 it was decided by the local NHS Trust that a more modern facility should be constructed adjacent to the existing Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France on the south-east edge of the city.

Ipswich Tidal Barrier

Dan Carpenter July 19, 2017

This contract took us to the heart of Suffolk, to aid with the construction of a new Tidal Barrier Gate for the River Orwell, to reduce the risk and impact of flooding to the coastal town of Ipswich.

Brighton I360

WJ Group Admin August 24, 2015

In 2000, when the London Eye opened to huge critical acclaim and quickly became the UK’s most visited paid-for visitor attraction, countless cities wanted an ‘Eye’ of their own but found that a similar wheel design would not be financially viable without a suitable site or sufficient guaranteed visitor numbers.

Manchester Airport Control Tower

WJ Group Admin August 17, 2015

There are few construction environments as challenging to operate in as airports.

Salford Dallas Court Detention Tank

WJ Group Admin August 17, 2015

This contract took us North again to Greater Manchester. Salford, to be exact.