Cover-All and Ledcor Alberta Prove to be an Award Winning Combination

Ledcor’s salt management practices and Cover-All® buildings are an award winning combination. Ledcor Alberta has recently been recognized by the Canadian Construction Association in the Environment Achievement category for salt and leaching prevention solutions using Cover-All® buildings for salt and sand storage.

“Many contractors store the pickled piles (salt and sand mixture) outside on asphalt bases and allow rain and snow to cover the pile which leaches the salt out, contaminating the surrounding area. The pile then needs to be re-pickled because sand is all that is left,” says Gary Mayhew, general manager, Ledcor Alberta highway maintenance division.

Ledcor was awarded the Alberta Transportation highway maintenance contract in the beginning of 2001 and has since constructed 43 Cover-All® Arch™ (Legend ®) buildings ranging in size from 18 to 72 feet wide and up to 120 feet long in 29 locations across central Alberta. Ledcor was the first contractor to partner with Alberta Transportation to maintain over 5,000 miles (27 per cent) of the provincial highways.

“We selected Cover-All buildings because of the clear-span design, engineering qualities, reputation of the company, foundation options, and installation efficiencies,” says Mayhew. “They (Cover-All) provided us with the assurance the timelines could be met without compromising quality.”

The buildings’ foundations are constructed of 4,300 lb. pre-cast concrete lock-blocks placed on an asphalt base. The voids are treated with expandable foam and asphalt fillets were compacted in place along the perimeter. The interior walls of the foundations are lined with linseed oil treated plywood to prevent leakage and soil contamination. A curb runs along the perimeter of the asphalt pad to control water run-off. The foundation, combined with the corrosion-protected components of the Arch building, is proving to be the ideal salt shed that is environmentally sound.

“We monitor and examine the structural components regularly. The fabric does not corrode and the steel components are performing very well. These buildings will serve us very well for a very long time,” says Mayhew.

Not only is the Arch™ (Legend ®) building the ideal salt storage solution, Mayhew believes purchasing a Cover-All® is less risky than other structures. “Cover-All Arch buildings are classified as temporary structures which helped with site approvals,” says Mayhew. “And because the buildings can be relocated, we have options in the future. We’re in a competitive market; you never know what can happen after the term of a contract. Anytime we can create an asset that can be used for another project, the more secure the investment,” says Mayhew.