Toronto's Pearson International Airport was the recipient of a multi-year, multi-billion dollar redevelopment of the entire airport infrastructure during the two half decades book- ending the end of the twentieth century. The area's comprehensive network of stormwater interceptor reservoirs includes Aeroquay Stormwater Management Facility that lies hidden underground beneath busy Aeroquay Crescent. The entire project to construct this facility was completed between January and August of 2001. Excavation shoring using anchored shotcrete was completed by Geo-Foundations in two phases from February to April.
The dense clay till overburden prevalent at the airport is one of many types of soil that is extremely well suited to shoring using anchored shotcrete. Excavation shoring was an absolute necessity to construct the reservoir's seven-metre deep excavation considering the crowded confines of the airport property where space is at a premium. By burying the soil anchor heads within the shotcrete facing, the general contractor was able to make additional use of the shoring wall as the back form for construction of the permanent reservoir walls.
In total, 496 hollow core soil anchors were installed, varying in embedment from 6 to 10 metres. The excavation was advanced in four benches typically 1.8m high; total surface area of shoring exceeded 1,700m2. The entire excavation was completed to its full depth in just six and a half weeks. The anchored shotcrete shoring system was designed by geo-structural consultant engineers Isherwood Associates of Mississauga, Ontario.
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