March 18, 2008
Northern bridge project a winner, ENGCOMP
gives two railcars a new use
Originally published in the Prince Albert Daily
Herald newspaper, written by Barry Glass, Herald Staff (used with
permission from Prince
Albert Daily Herald)
A pair of railcars continue to help move goods,
but they never move. The two decommissioned flat-deck railcars
were transformed into a bridge using the engineering expertise
of ENGCOMP, a consulting firm owned by Jason Mewis, a former Prince
Albert resident.
 |
Photo
of the completed bridge |
 |
Mewis was born and raised in the city, graduating
form St. Mary High School in 1991. He went on to study engineering
and worked in Saskatoon for several years until branching out
on his own in June 2004.
Mewis is a registered professional engineer
with the right to consult in Saskatchewan for industrial, commercial
and residential structural projects.
And an interesting project for him and others
at his young firm was turning the railcars into a bridge for use
by Claude Resources Inc., a gold mining company with operations
north of La Ronge.
For its work on the project, ENGCOMP won awards
for infrastructure and technology innovation...
The bridge was installed across Monroe Creek
to gain access form Claude's gold processing facility to the newly
developed Santoy Gold Mine.
But it wasn't easy, said Mewis.
Claude bought the cars before any assessment
of them was done. They were damaged, twisted and rusted. They
were also a different size, which meant more work because the
plan was to lay them side by side.
And since it was a remote location, equipment
usually available, such as a crane, was not available.
"It was a challenge for sure," said
Mewis.
On-site testing for hidden cracks was done and
more steel had to be added for strength.
Even so, it was completed in 12 months from
start of engineering to completion of construction. The bridge
meets the requirements of Claude, the highway bridge code and
the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
It can be used as long as Claude needs it, said
Mewis, which might be as long as 25 to 30 years.
For its work on the project, ENGCOMP won awards
for infrastructure and technology innovation from the Consulting
Engineers of Saskatchewan.
Mewis said it is an honour to get the recognition.
"it's an award from an association of your peers."
Some of the other engineers in the competition
included former co-workers and bosses, he said.
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