A Review of Ground Temperatures at the Hans Creek Bridge Foundation

ABSTRACT: The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) includes eight bridges along its 140 km length. The highway crosses continuous ice-rich permafrost terrain and bedrock is generally too deep to be accessed for foundation construction. The Hans Creek Bridge is at km 57.3 of the ITH and is constructed on two abutments and two piers. Initial post-construction ground temperature monitoring essentially confirmed the design assumptions at the abutment locations, but ground temperatures at the bottom of the pier piles were found to be significantly warmer than assumed and the warmest observed at any of the ITH bridges. This paper summarizes the ground temperature monitoring data from the initial five years following construction and compares it with the design assumptions. The design and practical implications are discussed. It is expected that intervention to increase the capacity of the pier piles may be required sooner than estimated at the time of design.