Chabanel mechanical ventilation station

Construction of the Chabanel mechanical ventilation station

Project summary

The rectifier station houses a mechanical ventilation station (MVS). This MVS has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced with a new dedicated building, the Chabanel MVS. The new equipment is necessary for us to meet metro ventilation standards.

The existing rectifier station will also be updated with a refurbished building envelope. Once completed, the exterior will be more visually appealing.

Duration of the work: October 11, 2022 to winter 2026

Description of the work: Expansion of existing rectifier station to integrate a new mechanical ventilation station

Impact on local residents

Latest news - March 1, 2024

The tunnel excavation continued at the worksite throughout the week as planned. This step is progressing well and will carry on again next week.

We continue to work with the contractor to find ways to finish excavating the vertical shaft without using the heavy-duty jackhammer.

As previously announced, work will be carried out on Saturday to expedite the project. Jackhammers will not be used.
 

Latest news - February 23, 2024

We continued tunnel excavation with the small jackhammer and cutting machine this week. Rock consolidation work was also carried out.

As announced in our last newsletter, the project will require about 15 more days of heavy‑duty jackhammer use. We’re waiting to receive a part to be fitted to this equipment before resuming shaft excavation. This could happen as early as the week of February 26 or the week after.

We’re continuing to monitor noise levels closely at the site.


Latest news - February 9, 2024

Excavation update

There have been recent scheduling changes for work involving the heavy-duty jackhammer.

As of today, the project will require about 15 more days of heavy-duty jackhammer use. These 15 days will be spread over the next few weeks, with an expected end date in March 2024.

The heavy-duty jackhammering will alternate with other, less noisy jobs, such as removing excavated material from the worksite, installing mesh, and drilling and bolting to reinforce the rock.

Other excavation-related activities will continue until spring 2024, all involving less noisy equipment than the heavy-duty jackhammer. We will keep you informed of the progress.

Worksite entrance

A reminder that the worksite entrance in the alley is an emergency exit for workers and must be kept clear at all times. Please do not pile snow up against the partition.


Latest news - January 26, 2024

Work planned for the next two weeks

Shaft excavation

Over the next two weeks, work will continue as announced in the last newsletter. Excavation of the vertical shaft using a heavy-duty jackhammer is progressing well and will continue until mid-February.

Trench and pumping station excavation
Once the vertical shaft is complete, we will need to excavate trenches and a pumping station (a pit designed to manage the flow of water through our infrastructure) at the bottom of the shaft.

This work will also be carried out using a heavy-duty jackhammer. It is scheduled for late February or early March, and we expect it to take two weeks.

End of heavy-duty jackhammer operations

Once the trenches and pumping station have been excavated, we do not plan to use the heavy-duty jackhammer again. This is the latest information available. Due to operational constraints, work plans are always subject to change. We will keep you informed of any changes.

Cutting machine work on upcoming Saturdays

We are planning to work on upcoming Saturdays to keep the tunnel excavation moving as quickly as possible. As usual, this will only require the cutting machine, no jackhammers.


Latest news - January 19, 2024

Information on upcoming excavation

Starting early next week, we will need to use the heavy-duty jackhammer again to finish excavating the vertical shaft.

We expect this step to take about three weeks. In late February or early March, we may have to use this equipment again to demolish secondary elements at the bottom of the dig site. Since work schedules are always subject to change, we will continue to update you on next steps at the end of each week.

We worked with the contractor to examine alternative methods of completing this excavation using smaller equipment. However, due to existing constraints, it was concluded that this step can only be carried out with the heavy-duty jackhammer.  Please rest assured that we will be testing new noise mitigation measures and are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

Cutting machine work this Saturday

On Saturday, January 20, work will be done in the tunnels to keep the excavation on track. This will only require the cutting machine, no jackhammers.


Latest news - January 12

Here are the activities scheduled at the worksite until January 20.

  • We will continue excavating the tunnels with the cutting machine and small jackhammer.
  • We expect to work tomorrow, Saturday 13 and Saturday 20, to expedite the project. We will only be using the cutting machine on Saturdays and will not be using the small jackhammer. There may also be rock consolidation work.

Latest news - December 15

Tunnel excavation will take place this Saturday, December 16. Only the cutting machine will be in operation for this excavation. There may also be rock consolidation work.

Tunnel excavation update

We have excavated about 25% of the rock in the tunnels (the horizontal part).

Work to continue until the holidays

As previously mentioned, excavation work (using the cutting machine and small jackhammers) and concrete spraying will continue until the holidays.

Work will stop from December 23, 2023, to January 7, 2024, inclusively, and will resume on January 8, 2024. We will keep you updated as the work progresses.


Latest news - December 8

Tunnel excavation will take place at the Chabanel mechanical ventilation station worksite on Saturday, December 9. Only the cutting machine will be used. Rock consolidation work may also be done.

Excavation and concrete spraying will continue in the weeks leading up to the holiday break. Note that the worksite will be closed from December 23, 2023, to January 7, 2024, inclusive. Activities will resume on January 8, 2024.


Latest news - December 1

Worksite activities over the next three weeks

We will continue to dig the tunnels over the next three weeks. We will mainly use the cutting machine—the new, quieter piece of equipment—and the small jackhammer. Since starting this part of the excavation, we have dug 1.5 metres into the upper section of the tunnels. We have also started spraying concrete and will continue to do so regularly as the excavation progresses.

We will not be carrying out any work this weekend.

Learn more about the equipment used

In previous newsletters, we talked about the equipment involved in our excavation work. Here’s some more information on how we use these tools at the worksite.

  • Heavy-duty jackhammer: So far, the heavy-duty jackhammer has only been used to excavate the shaft. It will be used again to remove the remaining 2 metres of rock at the bottom of the shaft. For the time being, this step is scheduled for January or February.
  • Cutting machine: The cutting machine is only used for the horizontal portions of the tunnels. The tip cuts and crushes the rock, which can then be removed. The cutting machine cannot reach some parts of the rock; it is not possible to dig out every last “corner” with this tool. This is why we also have to use a small jackhammer.
  • Small jackhammer: A small jackhammer must be used to finish breaking up the rock around the shaft and excavation zone in the tunnels for the entirety of the excavation phase. This is a common practice on construction sites to complete excavation work. This tool can also be used to help the cutting machine for greater efficiency.

Latest news - November 17, 2023

We started preparing the new tunnel excavation equipment early this week. Since we finished this step ahead of schedule, we have already started digging.

The new equipment we are testing is essentially a rock crusher. The machine moves forward little by little, breaking up the rock, which is then removed piece by piece. Through these tests, we are now a few feet deeper into the tunnel.

Next week, we will conduct more tests to see whether this new method of excavation is conclusive and the entire tunnel can be excavated this way. As always, we will keep you informed of the results.


Latest news - November 10, 2023

 November 9, we completed the second-to-last step in the excavation of the shaft using a jackhammer. As expected, approximately 2 metres of rock is left at the bottom of the shaft. We estimate that a final round of excavation will be needed to reach the desired depth. This last step is expected to take place after the holidays. We will be in touch with you over the next few weeks with updates.

Based on current plans, no work with a large jackhamer is scheduled to take place for the next few weeks. We will be testing new equipment to perform the tunnel excavation.

Work suspended during the holidays
Activities at the worksite will be suspended for two weeks for the holidays, from December 22, 2023, to January 8, 2024.

 

We aim to provide you with the latest information available. Work schedules are always subject to change for operational reasons. We will keep you informed of any changes.

 
Action Date Update
Deployment
Octobrer 2022
Complete
Building demolition
October 2022 to December 2022
Complete
Excavation
January 2023 to winter 2024
Shaft: completion scheduled for winter 2024
Tunnel: completion scheduled for spring 2024
Ongoing
Concrete work
Winter 2024 to summer 2025
Upcoming
Finishing, testing and commissioning
Winter 2026
Upcoming
End of project
Winter 2026
 

This step of the work could generate vibrations and noise around the area, but the following mitigation measures will be in place:

  • An anti-noise wall was previously installed on the west side of the worksite (on the alley side) to reduce the noise level.
  • Noise partitions will be installed at various points around the worksite.
  • Sound levels will be measured to ensure that they do not exceed permitted thresholds.
  • Seismographs have been installed in strategic locations to monitor vibrations and prevent any damage to infrastructure.
  • The work will be mainly conducted Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., in accordance with municipal by-laws.

To reduce noise, we made the following improvements to the worksite:

  • The noise wall on the alleyway side has been enhanced. It is covered in insulating wool and has been extended to at least 3.8 metres tall on the back and side perimeters and up to 6 metres tall in certain critical areas.
  • A platform has been installed within the worksite, above the excavation area. With insulating wool on its floor, it will help reduce noise by acting as a partial ceiling over the excavation area. (The photo shows the platform being built.)
  • We continue to measure noise levels at the worksite on a regular basis and evaluate other noise reduction solutions that could be implemented to reduce the impact on your life.
  • The noise wall along the alleyway will be raised to better protect that area. A 1.8-metre (6-foot) section will be positioned upward to direct noise up and away from homes.
  • Acoustic insulation (650 square metres in total) will be installed in the shaft to limit noise reverberation during the excavation.
  • In addition to these two new measures, a temporary roof was recently suspended over the jackhammer to contain the noise produced by it.

This committee will allow residents living near the site to meet periodically with the people in charge of the project to receive up-to-date information and discuss their concerns during the work. 

The first meeting of the Good Neighbor Committee took place in September 2023. Representatives of the STM, the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough and local residents were present at this committee meeting.

Berri Street:

There is a worksite on Berri near Chabanel. One southbound lane will remain open at all times in this area.

The bike path will remain in its current location, along the west curb of Berri.

Some parking spaces on Berri are blocked off near the worksite. 

Chabanel Street:

Two storage areas needed for the worksite are located on the south side of Chabanel Street between Lajeunesse and Berri.

During the work, Chabanel will be a westbound one-way street between Lajeunesse and Berri, and curbside parking on Chabanel will be blocked off in this area.

At the Berri and Chabanel intersection, a portion of the northeast sidewalk will be blocked during the work. Pedestrians can use the west sidewalk in this area.

Please note that the work will at no time block pedestrian access to homes.

 

  • Any construction work likely to generate noise will be scheduled during the hours allowed by municipal regulations, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.
  • While the majority of the work will take place Monday through Friday, it may be necessary for it to continue on Saturdays and possibly, but more rarely, on Sundays in order to meet the project deadline. Should this happen, any extensions will be announced on this page, and an electronic newsletter will be sent out to subscribers.

Excavation

  • Excavation work will produce vibrations that may be felt by residents living next to the worksite. The contractor hired an independent consulting firm to survey all buildings (photographs) around the worksite. The inspections will serve to document the condition of buildings before and after construction. In the unlikely event that any damage is reported, an expert opinion could help determine whether the damage is the result of the vibrations produced by the project. Property owners concerned by the inspections have received a communication from us to this effect.

Dust

  • Anti-dust sheets are installed on the worksite partitions, and trucks will be cleaned before leaving the worksite.

Noise

  • Noise management for the project will be overseen by experts, and surveys will be conducted at various phases of the work to assess the noise level of the site.
  • To limit the impact on residents, the STM included an additional specification in the agreement with the contractor regarding noise levels from the Chabanel MVS worksite. As a result, the contractor must take significant measures to control the noise generated by the worksite. The STM will also be monitoring noise levels.
  • When possible, electric cranes and compressors will be used to reduce noise and CO₂ emissions.
  • Construction noise will be minimized by partitions of varying heights made of wood and filled with acoustic insulation. These noise walls will be placed strategically around the edge of the worksite, based on noise simulations produced by an expert company. The walls will reduce the noise caused by the worksite. Adjustments and improvements can also be made throughout the work to minimize impacts during construction.

Significant measures have been taken to ensure the safety of both nearby residents and workers:

  • The crane is an electric model, which creates less noise than the diesel-powered mobile cranes and produces no exhaust gas.
  • The crane will not be used when weather conditions are unfavourable.
  • When not in use, the crane will be left in “weathervane mode,” allowing it to pivot freely on its axis in strong winds. If you see the crane turning while the worksite is closed, this is normal!
  • The crane will be equipped with a “zoning system.” This electronic system allows the crane to be programmed with boundaries that stop it from lifting or moving a load into preset zones. The boundaries will be applied to the entire perimeter of the worksite to ensure that no lifting takes place over nearby homes or public areas. If lifting in a public area is necessary, a safety perimeter will be set up with a flagger present to redirect the flow of pedestrians and vehicles.

FAQ

The worksite is a considerable size. We have to dig into the rock bed to create a vertical shaft to a depth of 23 metres. We will then excavate a 18-metre tunnel, removing a total of 5,790 cubic metres of bedrock from the site. After that, we will install a waterproofing membrane over the tunnel to protect it from water infiltrations. Next comes the concrete, which will form the tunnel and underground building. Finally, fans and their accompanying electrical equipment will be installed. All of these steps vary in terms of duration and impact, such as noise and dust.

Trucks will access the worksite via Berri Street and will be parked inside the worksite fences. The number of trucks will vary depending on the type of work being done. At the height of the excavation work, there may be up to roughly 15 trucks per day. A flagger will be present when trucks are driving on Berri to ensure cyclist and pedestrian safety.

For now, blasting isn’t planned. Should the contractor decide to use this method in a next phase of the work, additional information will be sent to inform residents.

Given the excavation method used, and depending on your home’s soil composition, you may feel vibrations at certain times. An expert was hired by the contractor to inspect potentially affected buildings before the start of the work. The buildings could also be reassessed after the work is complete. If this applies to your building, you will have already received a letter.

The Chabanel MVS project construction contractor is responsible for removing snow from the worksite itself and from the sidewalk on the east side of Berri Street in front of the worksite. The borough being reponsible for snow removal for the sidewalks and streets, we have contacted them to ensure that our worksite does not interfere with these activities.

We have also coordinated with the private snow removal company hired by residents for the alleyway to ensure that snow removal can be done as usual during the work.

The alleyway will remain accessible to residents and cars during the work. However, due to the nature of the work and the location of the site, occasional obstructions will be necessary in the alleyway next to the worksite when the project begins. The alleyway traffic could be temporarily restricted or blocked for certain work - for example, asphalt removal, pile installation and anti-noise wall construction. These temporary traffic restrictions will be in place during the worksite’s active hours only and are necessary to ensure the safety of all while there are cranes in operation.

Traffic in the alleyway will be restricted around the worksite until Hydro-Québec removes a utility pole in the summer of 2023, but enough space will be available for vehicles to drive through until the work is completed.

Work will mainly be carried out during the week, within the hours authorized by the borough, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. From time to time, we could work outside the usual hours, if necessary. For example, this could be the case for concrete pouring, which cannot be paused halfway. Weekend work might also be performed to make up for delays and meet deadlines.

Since the worksite is located on a stretch of Berri Street, a procedure has been established with the City to ensure weekly garbage and recycling collection services for nearby residences. A notice has been mailed out to these residences.

Waste collection and collection of recyclable materials:

  • All waste or recyclable material must be in bags, with the exception of bulky items (furniture or household appliances). We ask that you use garbage or recycling bags as appropriate. These bags must then be deposited in the suitable bins.
  • The contractor is responsible for waste collection from residences near the worksite. He will return your bin to the front of your residence after collection. Don't forget to identify your bin with your address.
  • On the morning of the collection, we kindly ask you to deposit your bins in front of your residence before 7:00 AM to allow us time to pick them up before the city’s collection.

Collection of food residues:

  • Food waste bins can be placed on the sidewalk as usual on the morning of collection. However, we ask you to bring your bins to the sidewalk before 7:00 AM to allow us sufficient time to manage them before the city’s collection;
  • Please identify your brown food waste bins with your door number to facilitate its return to you.

If you live near the worksite and are planning a move, delivery or home renovation, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to arrange access to your building.

Fill out the form and please provide the following information:

  • Your name
  • The expected date of your move, delivery or home renovation
  • Whether it is a move, delivery or home renovation
  • Your address
  • Your phone number

Once the work is complete, the mechanical ventilation station will comply with all City of Montréal noise by-laws. Huge noise suppressors will mitigate the noise from the fans, installed below ground level, to ensure quiet for residents living nearby. The noise will not exceed 50 decibels, a level comparable to that of a household dishwasher.

We care about the quality of life of residents living close to our facilities. Rest assured that we will take all measures necessary to keep the work’s impact on your activities to a minimum.

Learn more about the project

A mechanical ventilation station is an infrastructure located between two métro stations that is equipped with two fans designed to extract hot air from the métro network through inlets fitted with air vents. Ventilation stations built for the original métro network extract around 60,000 cubic feet of air per minute, while the new ventilation systems extract around 240,000 cubic feet per minute. Huge noise suppressors mitigate the noise from these fans to ensure quiet for residents living close to a ventilation station.

Mechanical ventilation stations serve three essential purposes:

Comfort ventilation
Regulates the ambient temperature and supplies fresh air for transit users by exchanging air from the outside with air inside the métro network.

Night-time ventilation
Ensures a supply of fresh air for night workers carrying out routine maintenance.

Emergency ventilation
In the event of an incident, controls smoke and provides a safe evacuation route for passengers via the nearest métro station and ensures unobstructed access for emergency first responders.

1. Preparation of worksite

  • Fencing off the work area
  • Installing work equipment

Approximate timeframe: 2 months

2. Excavation at ground level

Approximate timeframe: 5 months

3. Excavation in the rock bed

Approximate timeframe: 12 to 14 months

4. Installation of a membrane to ensure water-tightness of all infrastructures

Approximate timeframe: 2 months

5. Concrete work for ventilation station

  • Concrete work for all infrastructures

Approximate timeframe: 9 months

6. Installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as architectural finishes and exterior design

  • Delivery of equipment to worksite
  • Installation of equipment
  • Performance testing on mechanical equipment
  • Construction of ventilation station’s external structure

Approximate timeframe: 4 months

Let's chat

A virtual information session was held on September 13, 2022

About the information session

Contenu de l'onglet 5

       Do you live, run a business or work in the area?
 

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The project in images


This work is made possible through funding from the Ministère des Transports du Québec.

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