68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

PERMAFROST CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DEMPSTER HIGHWAY, YUKON AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Session: In Situ Testing, Instrumentation, and Monitoring in Cold Regions / Essais insitu et instrumentation en milieu nordique

Christopher Burn, Carleton University (Canada)
Jeff Moore, Carleton University (Canada)
Brendan O'Neill, Carleton University (Canada)
Don Hayley, Hayley Arctic Geoscience (Canada)
Richard Trimble, Tetra Tech EBA (Canada)
Fabrice Calmels, Yukon Research Centre (Canada)
Sandra Orban, Yukon HIghways and Public Works (Canada)
Muhammad Idrees, Yukon Highways and Public Works (Canada)

The Dempster Highway was built over permafrost to connect the western Arctic with the national highway system. Mean annual permafrost temperatures along the route are = -4 °C. Most ground ice is found in glacial deposits, and in these materials the embankment is particularly prone to thaw subsidence. Extended periods of rain have led to debris flows blocking the road and wash outs in steep terrain and near rivers. Icings may impede drainage during freshet. These hazards are of varying relative importance along the route. The principal terrain units and permafrost-related hazards are: North Klondike, icing; Blackstone Uplands, thaw subsidence; Engineer Creek/Ogilvie River, debris flows and wash outs; Eagle Plains, relatively unaffected; Richardson Mountains and Peel Plateau, thaw subsidence; Northern Plains, icing.