TERRAIN EVALUATION OF THE DEMPSTER HIGHWAY ACROSS THE EAGLE PLAIN AND ALONG THE RICHARDSON MOUNTAINS, YUKON TERRITORY

A detailed terrain classification was carried out as part of a study on the dempster highway from mile 166 to mile 290.5, the yukon - Northwest Territories border. The objective was to establish a rational basis for field testing and subsurface exploration programs in the future and the evaluation of the potential effects upon the physical environment of the construction of highways and other transportation facilities in the arctic, on terrain composed of sedimentary rocks which have not been glaciated. Terrain units were established on the basis of geology, vegetation, topography, and patterned ground. The subsurface sediments were mapped mainly as outcrops of weathered shale and sandstone. The sandstone was found to be the most stable foundation and borrow material. The shale was found to be mainly clay with high ice contents near the surface, and was observed to be very unstable when thawed. A number of plant communities, which different significantly from a geotechnical point of view, were identified. (A) /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  National Research Council of Canada

  1200 Montreal Road
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada  K1A 0R6
• Authors:
  • RICHARDSON, N W
  • Sayer, E K
• Publication Date: 1975-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 296-319
• Serial:
  • CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL JOURNAL
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: National Research Council of Canada

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Environmental impacts; Field tests; Geological surveying; Geology; Polar regions; Road construction; Rocks; Sandstones; Sedimentary rocks; Sediments; Shale; Soil mechanics; Surveying; Topography; Vegetation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions; Canada
• Old TRIS Terms: Arctic area; Subsurface explorations
• ITRD Terms: 8018: Canada; 4177: Clay; 4053: Geology; 8134: Polar regions; 3665: Road construction; 4154: Rock; 4104: Sandstone; 4190: Sediment; 4168: Shale; 5722: Site investigation; 4025: Surveying (land); 2488: Vegetation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00132299
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 23 1976 12:00AM