Kelowna Gyro Forcemain

THE PROJECT

The project was a replacement of a large diameter forcemain in the busy downtown streets of Kelowna, running from a lift station at Gyro beach and continuing along KLO and Okanagan College. Major project risks and challenges were mitigated and successfully accomplished, such as:

• Well point dewatering for the elevation of the forcemain being 1-2m below the water table.
• Traffic management for high traffic areas along busy streets, public park, college, businesses, and residents.
• Challenging existing and proposed utility crossings.
• Complex bypass pumping plans for lift station retrofit and tie-ins
  of proposed forcemain.

The procurement model for this service contract with the City of Kelowna was a Request for Proposal (RFP). The delivery method for the project was a negotiated approach, although a standard design, bid, build.

Due to our relationship the client and the consultant, our team provided value options to determine the most cost-effective and efficient approaches, as well as to plan and mitigate project risks.

In a collaborative team approach with the City of Kelowna and consultants (All North), we decided to delay mobilization at the start of the project due to weather.

For the final complex and detailed tie-in planning, the team decided to delay the planned date for this high-risk activity a couple weeks, to a date and time Kelowna’s operations and All North consultants indicated to be most suitable for their operations and infrastructure flow rates.

The technical tie-in was completed successfully, with minor unforeseen conditions occurring in which our experienced crew and certified experienced welder were able to react, mitigate, and problem solve to overcome the obstacles safely and effectively.