Question re:Building in Richmond-What Are Those Things?

Conrad Yablonski · #1 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 3:58 AM**

Canada Line is so soothing-I've seen this huge pile of dirt enclosed by cement bunkers a number of times before I realised I was looking @ .......a huge pile of dirt enclosed by concrete bunkers right on #3 Rd.

Then I realised I'd seen the same thing further east as well.

So is this um...pile something to do with stabilising subsoil in a place with a high water table?

Or something more esoteric?

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

TIA

SpongeG · #2 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 4:22 AM**

i think its to stabilize the soil

allan_kuan · #3 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 4:27 AM**

Yeah pretty much. It's hard to see Vancouver as being a paranoid place that would allow such things to be built for nuclear warfare / tsunami shelter / radiation shelter / etc.

Then again, I think one of those mounds of soil near Lansdowne seems to have been there for a looonnnng time... unless they just started construction... =S

teriyaki · #4 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 4:37 AM**

It is exactly as you said. Its something to do with the soil, so this is a standard practice for any large-scale building in Richmond.

I believe the one you're referring to is the old dealership lot in which I believe 5 new condo's are going up in one massive complex kind of like in asia. The name of the development is on the tip of my tongue...

bils · #5 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 5:46 AM**

due to the high water table in richmond they need to compress the soil prior to building any midrise/highrise. typically this occurs for at least 6 months. site prep at quintet has been ongoing since last summer. should see them starting that pile of soil in the near future

whatnext · #6 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 6:05 AM**

Yep, site preloading. Any born and bred Vancouverite should know this!

Zassk · #7 Posted: **Apr 1, 2011, 6:33 AM**

Yup, preloading, accomplishing the same thing as the sand piles along the SFPR route.