Nov 27 2025
The University Club | University of Alberta
11435 Saskatchewan Drive
Edmonton, AB T6G 2G9
TAC Alberta Chapter Talk: West Valley LRT Drainage Relocation Talk
The TAC Alberta Chapter is excited to announce our next talk presentation event.
Topic: West Valley LRT Drainage Relocation
Presenters: Shiva Maharjan, E.I.T., PMP, Project Manager, Shanghai Construction Group (Canada) Corporation
Location: University of Alberta Faculty Club (11435 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G9)
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Cost:
$10 - TAC Members
$20 - Non-members
$5 - Students
Presentation Overview:
The Valley Line West LRT project, currently under construction, will connect downtown Edmonton to the city's west side.
As part of the project, EPCOR, which owns and operates several sanitary sewers along the LRT alignment, needed to replace a primary sewer due to conflicts with the new infrastructure. Given the location, depth, and length of the sewer—combined with other utility conflicts—microtunnelling was selected as the preferred construction method. Shanghai Construction Group was awarded the contract and developed a plan to execute the work within a tight construction schedule.
Four different drives were planned to install the new trunk in conjunction with the open-cut portions, with drive lengths ranging from 130 to 990m. To meet the timeline, two of the drives were planned to be done simultaneously from opposite sides of an existing 1500 mm diameter trunk, which placed the trunk at risk during the installation. Tight working spaces, which at times were limited to one to two lanes of traffic, required small and compact equipment and shafts to complete the drives. This presentation outlines the methodology and construction planning needed to execute the multiple microtunnel installations and a number of the challenges and obstacles encountered during construction.
The Valley Line West LRT Drainage Relocation project in Edmonton, Alberta, presented a series of intricate challenges for microtunneling due to dense urban utility networks and unpredictable subsurface conditions. Led by Shanghai Construction Group (Canada) Corporation, the project involved relocating critical drainage infrastructure to accommodate future LRT tracks, spanning multiple tunnel drives and shaft locations across Stony Plain Road and adjacent streets.
A detailed conflict matrix identified over 20 known utility conflicts, categorized by priority. Mitigation strategies included realignment of tunneling paths, descope of microtunneling segments, hand-tunneling, and temporary flow control systems such as inverted siphons. At several locations—136 St, 133 St, 121 St, 120 St, and 118 St—solutions were tailored to address direct conflicts with manholes, rib-and-lagging tunnels, active telecom lines, and deteriorated clay pipes. Unknown conflicts emerged during tunneling at 134 St and 119 St, where operations were halted due to high torque and obstruction by reinforced concrete piles. These were resolved through emergency rescue shafts, MTBM realignment, and ground investigations using hydrovac and ground penetrating radar.
The presentation highlights the importance of adaptive engineering, real-time monitoring, and collaborative problem-solving in navigating both anticipated and unforeseen subsurface challenges in urban microtunneling projects.
Get to know the presenter:
Shiva Maharjan, E.I.T., PMP
Shiva Maharjan is a seasoned project manager and technical lead with over a decade of multidisciplinary experience spanning urban infrastructure, trenchless tunneling, and high-voltage electrical systems. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Shiva brings a rare blend of engineering precision, strategic leadership, and stakeholder fluency to complex construction environments.
Currently serving as Project Manager at Shanghai Construction Group (Canada) Corporation, Shiva oversees major microtunneling and drainage relocation projects for clients including the EPCOR, City of Edmonton, and Government of Nepal. His portfolio includes high-profile works such as the Valley Line West LRT Drainage Relocation, Groat Road Storm Trunk Rehabilitation, and the 99 Avenue Tunnel Rehabilitation Project—where he managed the installation of over 1 km of non-circular 1300 x 950 mm ID sanitary trunk tunnel at depths reaching 30 meters.
Shiva’s expertise in MTBM (Microtunnel Boring Machine) operations and environmental compliance has made him a trusted figure in both trenchless and open-cut construction. His technical acumen is matched by his ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, negotiate with stakeholders—including indigenous communities—and deliver cost-effective solutions.
He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Utility Engineering from Curtin University (Australia), a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development from Macquarie University (Australia), and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Tribhuvan University (Nepal). His credentials are recognized by WES Canada, and he is certified in Project Leadership (NAIT) and Project Management Professional (PMP), alongside safety and field certifications such as CSTS, Fall Protection, and Confined Space Training.
