Visit of Canadian delegation to the Soviet Union, 8-19 September 1978: Canada/U.S.S.R. Working Group on Architecture, Construction and Building Materials Theme 3B: Earthworks - Transportation

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Visit of Canadian delegation to the Soviet Union, 8-19 September 1978:

Canada/U.S.S.R. Working Group on Architecture, Construction and

Building Materials Theme 3B: Earthworks - Transportation

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA DIVISION OF BLllLDlNG RESEARCH

DBR INTERNAL REPORT NO.

460

VISIT OF CANADIAN DELEGATION TO THE SOVIET UNION

8-19 SEPTEMBER 1978

CANADA/U.S.S.R. WORKING GROUP ON

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS

THEME 3B: EARTHWORKS

- TRANSPORTATION

by

G.H. Johnston

Checked by:

E.P.

Approved by:

L

.

W

.

G

.

Date:

March 1980

VISIT OF CANADIAN DELEGATION TO THE SOVIET UNION

SEPTEMBER 8-19 1978

CANADA/U.S.S.R. WORKING GROUP

ON

ARCI-IITECTURE,

CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS

THEME 3B: EARTHWORKS

-

TRANSPORTATION

There are several agreements in force between Canada and the

U.S.S.R. covering technical, scientific and cultural exchanges. One

is the agreement on the Industrial Application of Science and Techno-

logy. It is managed by a Mixed Commission under which a number of

working groups have been established. The Mixed Commission Working

Group on Architecture, Construction and Building Materials is headed

by Mr. J.A.H. Mackay, Deputy Minister, Department of Public Works, for

the Canadian side and by Mr. 1.1. Ishchenko, Deputy Minister, Gosstroy,

for the Soviet side.

Technical information and visits are exchanged within several

subject areas or "Themes" of mutual interest set up by the Working Group.

Theme 3B: Earthworks

-

Transportation, deals primarily with the con-

struction of embankments, including excavation, transportation and place-

ment of earth materials, for highways and railways under northern and

permafrost conditions. Chairmen for Theme 3 are Mr. G.D. Reid, Director,

Transportation Directorate, Department of Public Works, on the Canadian

side and Dr. D.I. Fedorov, Director, All Union Research Institute for

Transport Construction, (TsNIIS), Ministry of Transport Construction, on

the Soviet side.

A four-man delegation from the Soviet Union, led by Dr. N.A.

Peretrukhin, TsNIIS, visited Canada during the period 6-13 April 1973

under Theme 3B. In exchange,a Canadian delegation of four visited the

Soviet Union during the period 8-19 September 1978. The following were

members of the Canadian delegation:

G.H. Johnston

-

Assistant Head, Geotechnical

Section, Division of Building

Research, National Research

Council of Canada, Ottawa,

Ontario

-

LEADER

R.P.L. Daniels

- Manager, Civil Engineering,

Department of Public Works,

Pacific Region, Whitehorse, Y.T.

J . B . M i l l a r - Manager, Western C o n s t r u c t i o r l and Lumber Co. L t d . , Edmonton, A1 b e r t a

M.S. Wakely - R e g i o n a l E n g i n e e r , S p e c i a l P r o j e c t s , C . P . R a i l , Vancouver, B . C .

The main p u r p o s e o f t h e v i s i t was t o o b s e r v e e a r t h w o r k c o n s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s on t h e w e s t e r n end o f t h e Baikal-Amur M a i n l i n e (BAM) Railway

i n e a s t e r n S i b e r i a . In a d d i t i o n , d i s c u s s i o n s of f u t u r e a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t h e framework o f Theme 3B were h e l d and a P r o t o c o l s i g n e d . An a c c o u n t o f t h e v i s i t o f t h e Canadian d e l e g a t i o n t o t h e U.S.S.R. i s g i v e n i n t h i s r e p o r t .

VISIT PROGRAM

A f t e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h P a s s p o r t C o n t r o l a t Moscow's S h e r e m e t ' e v o a i r p o r t l a t e i n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f F r i d a y , 8 September 1978 (where t h e r e was a s h o r t d e l a y when one o f o u r members (MSW) was q u e s t i o n e d i n d e t a i l by t h e "green c a p " ) , we were met by D r . P e r e t r u k h i n , two i n t e r p r e t e r s

( V i c t o r Kuznetsov and A l e x i Z v i a g i n t s e v ) and Mr. V . M . Kolosov. A f t e r p i c k i n g up o u r l u g g a g e t h e y whisked u s t h r o u g h t h e o t h e r h u r d l e s a t t h e a i r p o r t w i t h o u t s t o p p i n g and t o o k u s t o t h e R o s s i a H o t e l by c a r where rooms had been r e s e r v e d f o r u s .

The f o l l o w i n g morning t h e y p i c k e d u s up by c a r and d r o v e u s t o t h e Canadian Embassy where we t a l k e d w i t h M r . I a n Wood f o r a b o u t an h o u r .

They t h e n t o o k u s t o TsNIIS t o meet w i t h D r . Fedorov and d i s c u s s t h e program f o r o u r v i s i t and f u t u r e p r o p o s e d a c t i v i t i e s u n d e r Theme 3B.

I n J u n e 1978, t h e S o v i e t s i d e had p r o p o s e d a t e n - d a y v i s i t t o t h e U . S . S . R . , t o i n c l u d e s t o p s a t B r a t s k and I r k u t s k i n e a s t e r n S i b e r i a ( a s w e l l a s Moscow) and a two-day t o u r o f t h e w e s t e r n end o f BAM t o i n s p e c t s e c t i o n s a l r e a d y completed and u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n . I n r e p l y , t h e Cana- d i a n s i d e a s k e d t h a t t h e t o u r o f BAM be e x t e n d e d t o f o u r d a y s t o a l l o w s u f f i c i e n t t i m e t o o b s e r v e a c t u a l c o n s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s , i . e . a t o t a l o f 12 d a y s i n t h e U.S.S.R.

A t TsNIIS, a program f o r a 12-day v i s i t , i n c l u d i n g f o u r d a y s on HAM, was p r e s e n t e d f o r o u r a p p r o v a l (Appendix l ( a ) ) . Our h o s t s s a i d t h a t t h e a c t u a l t r a v e l i t i n e r a r y on BAM c o u l d n o t b e c o n f i r m e d u n t i l we r e a c h e d B r a t s k where t h e y would c o n s u l t w i t h t h e l o c a l o f f i c i a l s .

We t r a v e l l e d o v e r n i g h t by a i r from Moscow, a r r i v i n g a t B r a t s k e a r l y i n t h e morning on Sunday, 1 0 September. A f t e r a s h o r t r e s t we were t a k e n on a t o u r o f B r a t s k and s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s w i t h s t o p s a t a v a c a t i o n camp f o r workers and a p a p e r m i l l . On Monday morning we had t e c h n i c a l d i s c u s - s i o n s w i t h l o c a l BAM o f f i c i a l s and t h a t a f t e r n o o n were t a k e n on a t o u r of t h e B r a t s k Dam.

A t B r a t s k we wcrc informed t h a t arrangerncnts had bccn made f o r u s t u t r a v e l by t r a i n a l o n g BAM t o t h e end o f r a i l a t Kunerma - a two-day t r i p w i t h s t o p s en r o u t e . A t t h a t p o i n t , we would be mct by o f f i c i a l s from t h e n e x t s e c t o r and t r a v e l f o r a n o t h e r two d a y s by j e e p and t r u c k a l o n g t h e s e c t i o n u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n around t h e n o r t h end o f Lake B a i k a l . We would t h e n t a k e a b o a t from t h e town ( p o r t ) o f Nizhneangarsk a t t h e n o r t h end o f Lake Baikal t o I r k u t s k on t h e Angara R i v e r , a f u l l d a y ' s j o u r n e y . P l a n s changed, however, and we were s u b s e q u e n t l y informed t h a t a h e l i c o p t e r would be a v a i l a b l e t o t a k e u s from Nizhneangarsk t o I r k u t s k . T h i s would be much more c o n v e n i e n t and a v o i d t h e l o n g , and p r o b a b l y r o u g h , b o a t t r i p on t h e l a k e .

We t r a v e l l e d o v e r n i g h t by t r a i n from B r a t s k t o Ust-Kut, a r r i v i n g t h e r e e a r l y i n t h e morning on Tuesday, 12 September. We l e f t s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d on a s p e c i a l t r a i n (two c o a c h e s and a d i e s e l l o c o m o t i v e ) and t r a v e l l e d f o r t h e n e x t day and a h a l f ( w i t h an o v e r n i g h t s t a y on t h e t r a i n a t K i r e n g a ) , making s e v e r a l t e c h n i c a l s t o p s en r o u t e b e f o r e a r r i v i n g a t Ulkan a t noon on Wednesday, 1 3 September. From t h e r e we were t a k e n a n - o t h e r 50 km by a s m a l l f o u r - w h e e l - d r i v e bus t o Kunerma ( a t t h e f o o t o f t h e m o u n t a i n s ) , r e t u r n i n g t o Ulkan t o spend t h e n i g h t on t h e t r a i n .

The n e x t morning when we a r o s e i t was snowing, w i t h low c l o u d c o v e r and p o o r v i s i b i l i t y . A message was r e c e i v e d from t h e n e x t s e c t o r s a y i n g t h a t t h e r e was a bad s t o r m and snow had b l o c k e d t h e r o a d s i n t h e mountains They c o u l d n o t g e t t h r o u g h t o p i c k u s up and i t would be some t i m e b e f o r e t h e y c o u l d , d e p e n d i n g upon t h e w e a t h e r and how q u i c k l y t h e y c o u l d open t h e a c c e s s r o a d . Our t r a i n had t o l e a v e i n a b o u t an h o u r t o r e t u r n t o B r a t s k and i t was s u g g e s t e d t h a t we r e t u r n w i t h i t , f l y t o I r k u t s k f o r a t o u r o f t h e c i t y and t h e n r e t u r n t o Moscow. The a l t e r n a t i v e was t o s t a y a t Ulkan i n t h e hope t h a t t h e w e a t h e r would c l e a r , b u t no a s s u r a n c e c o u l d b e g i v e n t h a t i t would improve.

We were t o l d , and i t was e v i d e n t , t h a t accommodation a t Ulkan was a t a premium and "not v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e . " Had we d e c i d e d t o s i t o u t t h e

w e a t h e r a t Ulkan, I knew from p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e t h a t even though t h e s u n was s h i n i n g a t Ulkan t h e r e was a 90% c h a n c e t h a t " t h e r o a d t h r o u g h t h e mountains would s t i l l b e i m p a s s a b l e " and we would end up r e t u r n i n g t o

B r a t s k w i t h o u t v i s i t i n g t h e n e x t s e c t o r . We e x p r e s s e d g r e a t d i s a p p o i n t m e n t (which made o u r h o s t s somewhat u n c o m f o r t a b l e ) and f i n a l l y d e c i d e d t o r e t u r n t o B r a t s k on t h e t r a i n b u t omit t h e I r k u t s k v i s i t and t r a v e l back t o Moscow on t h e f i r s t a v a i l a b l e f l i g h t .

Within an h o u r o f making o u r d e c i s i o n ( a b o u t 1 0 a . m . ) we were on o u r way back t o B r a t s k on t h e t r a i n . We t r a v e l l e d s t r a i g h t t h r o u g h w i t h o u t s t o p , a r r i v i n g a t Ust-Kut a b o u t 8 p.m. where o u r two c o a c h e s were c o n n e c t e d t o t h e r e g u l a r west-bound p a s s e n g e r t r a i n . We t r a v e l l e d o v e r n i g h t and a r r i v e d i n B r a t s k a t 1 0 : 3 0 a.m. F r i d a y , 15 September. I n i t i a l l y t h e y were a b l e t o book u s on t h e a f t e r n o o n f l i g h t back t o Moscow, b u t t h i s had t o b e c a n c e l l e d ( f o r some r e a s o n o r o t h e r ) - f o r t u n a t e l y , b e c a u s e t h a t a i r c r a f t had t o c r a s h l a n d a t O m s k . We l e f t on t h e e v e n i n g f l i g h t i n s t e a d , a r r i v i n g

i n Moscow a b o u t m i d n i g h t (= 5 a.m. S a t u r d a y , B r a t s k t i m e ) .

On S a t u r d a y we were t a k e n by c a r on a s h o p p i n g and s i g h t s e e i n g t o u r . I n t h e e v e n i n g we went t o t h e Moscow C i r c u s , a most e n t e r t a i n i n g o u t i n g . On Sunday, a f t e r a r e s t p e r i o d , we had f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n on t h e P r o t o c o l and i n t h e e v e n i n g were t a k e n t o t h e Congress H a l l i n t h e Kremlin t o s e e t h e o p e r a Aida

-

an e x c e l l e n t p e r f o r m a n c e by t h e B o l s h o i Opera Company.

T i c k e t s f o r b o t h t h e c i r c u s and t h e o p e r a were p r o v i d e d by o u r h o s t s . On Monday, 18 September, we v i s i t e d TsNIIS f o r f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h D r . Fedorov, s i g n e d t h e P r o t o c o l , and t h e n were t a k e n t o t h e M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n f o r a b r i e f meeting w i t h M r . Ekimchenko. That e v e n i n g D r . P e r e t r u k h i n ( w i t h A l e x i Z v i a g i n t s e v , i n t e r p r e t e r ) h o s t e d a d i n n e r f o r u s a t t h e R o s s i a H o t e l .

Tuesday morning we were t a k e n t o S h e r e m e t ' e v o a i r p o r t where

D r . P e r e t r u k h i n and an i n t e r p r e t e r saw u s o f f a t 8 : 1 5 a.m. f o r London

v i a Warsaw and Z u r i c h . A f t e r a n i g h t i n London we r e t u r n e d t o Canada. Our complete t r a v e l s c h e d u l e i s g i v e n i n Appendix l ( b ) .

Two c a r s w i t h d r i v e r s (and a van when r e q u i r e d t o c a r r y o u r l u g g a g e ) were a v a i l a b l e t o move u s round Moscow and a bus was u s e d i n B r a t s k . Two coaches were p r o v i d e d f o r o u r t r i p on t h e r a i l w a y e a s t o f B r a t s k . The two c o a c h e s were a t t a c h e d t o t h e end o f t h e r e g u l a r p a s s e n g e r t r a i n (con- s i s t i n g o f 18 c a r s ) from B r a t s k t o Ust-Kut, a town (and p o r t ) on t h e Lena R i v e r . E a s t o f Ust-Kut, which i s t h e end o f s c h e d u l e d r a i l s e r v i c e from t h e west and t h e s t a r t o f new BAM, o u r s p e c i a l t r a i n c o n s i s t e d of t h e two c a r s p u l l e d by a d i e s e l l o c o m o t i v e .

Our c o a c h , which was t h e p r i v a t e c a r o f t h e Head o f A n g a r s t r o y , had f o u r s l e e p i n g compartments and a l a r g e room w i t h t a b l e , c h a i r s and c h e s t e r - f i e l d . T h i s s e r v e d a s a d i n i n g and meeting room f o r d i s c u s s i o n s . A v e r y p l e a s a n t middle-aged U k r a i n i a n l a d y (Anna Pavlonova) t r a v e l l e d i n t h e same c a r and worked wonders i n p r e p a r i n g a l l o u r e x c e l l e n t meals on a s m a l l c o a l and wood s t o v e i n a 4 ' x 6 ' k i t c h e n a t one end o f t h e c a r . The f o u r meabers o f t h e Canadian d e l e g a t i o n p l u s D r . P e r e t r u k h i n and t h e two i n t e r p r e t e r s s h a r e d t h i s c a r . A l l o t h e r s i n o u r group s l e p t i n t h e second c a r (presumably a r e g u l a r s l e e p i n g c a r ) , b u t a t e w i t h u s i n o u r coach.

D r . P e r e t r u k h i n and t h e two i n t e r p r e t e r s ( Z v i a g i n t s e v and Kuznetsov) were w i t h u s t h r o u g h o u t o u r s t a y i n t h e S o v i e t Union, a l t h o u g h Kuznetsov was a b s e n t on t h e l a s t two d a y s i n Moscow ( F i g u r e s 1 and 2 ) . The names o f t h o s e we met d u r i n g o u r v i s i t a r e g i v e n i n Appendix 2 . I a s k e d f o r and was g i v e n a copy o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n c h a r t o f t h e All-Union Research I n s t i - t u t e o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n (TsNIIS). A t r a n s l a t i o n i s g i v e n i n Appendix 3 .

Our h o s t s were most h o s p i t a b l e and we were looked a f t e r e x t r e m e l y w e l l d u r i n g o u r v i s i t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , we were u n a b l e t o a c h i e v e t h e main

o b j e c t i v e o f o u r v i s i t , t o view c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s on t h e BAM r a i l w a y .

TW BAIKAL-AMUR MAINLINE (BAM) RAILWAY

The BAbl r a i l w a y i s b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d between 175 and 500 km n o r t h of and r o u g h l y p a r a l l e l t o t h e T r a n s - S i b e r i a n Railway, which was

completed a t t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y . I h e t o t a l l e n g t h o f t h e BNI, from where i t l e a v e s t h e T r a n s - S i b e r i a n a t T a i s h e t i n t h e west t o t h e p o r t o f S o v e t s k a y a Gavan on t h e e a s t c o a s t , i s a b o u t 4300 km ( F i g u r e 3 ) . The s e c t i o n from Komsomolsk-on-Amur t o S o v e t s k a y a Gavan was completed

i n t h e mid-1940's; Komsomolsk-on-Amur was c o n n e c t e d t o t h e T r a n s - S i b e r i a n a t Khabarovsk a b o u t 1940 ( F i g u r e 4 ) . The s e c t i o n from T a i s h e t t o Ust-Kut, a t t h e head o f n a v i g a t i o n on t h e Lena R i v e r , was completed about 1954. I t r u n s t h r o u g h B r a t s k , t h e s i t e o f a l a r g e h y d r o - e l e c t r i c dam and i n d u s t r i a l complex on t h e Angara R i v e r . T h i s e l e c t r i f i e d l i n e c a r r i e s heavy t r a f f i c and e v e n t u a l l y w i l l be upgraded t o BAM s t a n d a r d s ( F i g u r e 5 ) .

Major c o n s t r u c t i o n on t h e 3200 km l o n g c e n t r a l s e c t i o n o f BWI,

from Ust-Kut t o Komsomolsk-on-Amur, was begun i n 1 9 7 4 . O p e r a t i o n s a r e b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y from t h r e e main c e n t r e s : e a s t from U s t - K u t , west from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and e a s t and west from Tynda l o c a t e d a t a b o u t t h e h a l f - w a y p o i n t . From Tynda a l i n e ( r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e " l i t t l e BAM") h a s been c o n s t r u c t e d s o u t h t o t h e town o f Bam l o c a t e d j u s t w e s t o f S k o v o r o d i n o on t h e T r a n s - S i b e r i a n R a i l w a y . A l i n e h a s a l s o b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d n o r t h f r o m Tynda t o B e r k a k i t where t h e r e a r e

l a r g e c o a l d e p o s i t s ( F i g u r e 6 ) . P r e s e n t p l a n s c a l l f o r BAM t o b e o p e r a t i o n a l by 1985. About 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 w o r k e r s w i l l b e employed a t t h e peak o f c o n s t r u c t i o n .

BAM i s b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d f o r two main r e a s o n s : ( a ) t o open up t h e r e m o t e a r e a s o f S i b e r i a f o r d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e v a s t n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s t h e y c o n t a i n , and ( b ) t o r e l i e v e p r e s s u r e on t h e T r a n s - S i b e r i a n Railway (and a l s o c r e a t e a m a j o r e a s t - w e s t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e away from t h e C h i n e s e b o r d e r ) . Immense m i n e r a l d e p o s i t s , i n c l u d i n g c o a l , i r o n o r e , c o p p e r , l e a d , z i n c and a s b e s t o s y a r e known t o e x i s t and l a r g e t i m b e r and g a s and o i l

r e s o u r c e s a r e w a i t i n g t o be e x p l o i t e d i n t h e r e g i o n t o b e t r a v e r s e d . A s

development o f t h e s e r e s o u r c e s p r o c e e d s , new s e t t l e m e n t s and c i t i e s w i l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d . A l a r g e i n c r e a s e i n p o p u l a t i o n i s e x p e c t e d . A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e t h e a r e a t o b e t r a v e r s e d by BAM i s v i r t u a l l y u n i n h a b i t e d and a c c e s s i s

d i f f i c u l t , m a i n l y by w i n t e r r o a d s .

The BAM r o u t e c r o s s e s v e r y d i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n , i n c l u d i n g s e v e n m a j o r mountain r a n g e s , l a r g e a r e a s o f muskeg, and h u n d r e d s of k i l o m e t r e s o f perma- f r o s t . I n a d d i t i o n , i t r u n s t h r o u g h a m a j o r s e i s m i c zone on i t s w e s t e r n end

(around t h e n o r t h end o f Lake B a i k a l ) where more t h a n 30 e a r t h q u a k e s r e g i s t e r i n g s i x o r h i g h e r on t h e R i c h t e r s c a l e h a v e o c c u r r e d s o f a r t h i s c e n t u r y . The c l i m a t e o f t h e r e g i o n i s s e v e r e w i t h w i n t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s d r o p - p i n g t o -60°C; l o n g p e r i o d s o f -40°C a r e common. Summers a r e v e r y warm and i n s e c t s make l i f e u n c o m f o r t a b l e . About 30 k i l o m e t r e s o f t u n n e l s ( t h e l o n g - e s t more t h a n 14 km) h a v e t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d , a n d more t h a n 3500 b r i d g e s , o f which 140 w i l l b e g r e a t e r t h a n 100 m l o n g , w i l l b e r e q u i r e d . More t h a n 200 s t a t i o n s o f v a r y i n g s i z e and a n c i l l a r y r a i l w a y f a c i l i t i e s w i l l be b u i l d a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s on t h e l i n e . Many l a r g e c o m m u n i t i e s c o m p l e t e w i t h f u l l y s e r v i c e d h o u s i n g , s c h o o l s , l i b r a r i e s , r e c r e a t i o n and c u l t u r a l c e n t r e s , e t c . , w i l l a l s o b e e s t a b l i s h e d .

TECHNlCAL VISITS AND DISCUSSIONS ON BAM

On Sunday a f t e r n o o n , 1 0 S e p t e m b e r , f o l l o w i n g a r r i v a l i n B r a t s k t h a t morning and a f t e r a t h r e e - h o u r r e s t p e r i o d a t t h e h o t e l , we were t a k e n on a s i g h t s e e i n g t o u r o f t h e c i t y - p o p u l a t i o n a b o u t 240,000. D u r i n g t h e t o u r we v i s i t e d a v a c a t i o n camp f o r w o r k e r s a n d walked t h r o u g h a p a p e r m i l l , o n e of s e v e r a l m a j o r i n d u s t r i e s e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e a r e a t o make u s e o f t h e l o c a l n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s and t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e power g e n e r a t e d a t t h e huge B r a t s k h y d r o - e l e c t r i c p l a n t .

On Monday m o r n i n g , 11 S e p t e m b e r , we were shown two f i l m s i n a t h e a t r e a d j a c e n t t o t h e h o t e l , o n e on t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e B r a t s k Dam, t h e o t h e r on t h e p l a n n i n g and s t a r t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n on t h e BAM r a i l w a y . A g r o u p o f

I t a l i a n t o u r i s t s saw t h e f i l m s a t t h e same t i m e . We t h e n a d j o u r n e d t o t h e h a l l w a y o f t h e t h i r d f l o o r o f t h e h o t e l where we were b r i e f e d on t h e d e v e l o p - ment o f t h e w e s t e r n s e c t i o n of BAM by M r . Zhdanov, M r . Z a i t s e v and

Mr. Zhdanov explained that the western section of

BAM

extends from

Ust-Kut to the 6.7 km long Baikal tunnel

-

a distance of about 275 km.

lrack has been laid to Kunerrna (about

260

km) and should be completed as

far as the tunnel by the end of 1978. 'This section crosses very difficult

terrain - hilly, rolling country with large differences in elevation between

hilltops and valley bottoms. River beds and valleys are narrow and winding,

with steep slopes and banks. In many places rivers run in almost vertical-

walled canyons. Snowfall is relatively heavy and rockfalls, icings and

permafrost pose the major problems.

Route surveys and associated studies have been carried out for many

years and much time has been spent on selecting the final location for

the railway. Information collected by various institutes (geological,

hydrological, topographical, mining, etc.) that have worked in the area

over the years has been used. Specialists from the Tomsk Design Institute

(Ministry of Transport Construction) have been responsible for preparing

route, design and construction proposals. These are submitted to Gosstroy

where they are reviewed and approved at high level, based on economic and

technical considerations.

It

is planned to construct the roadbed and all bridges for double

track. The roadbed will be at least 11.1 m wide on tangents and slightly

wider on curves, track gauge is 1.520

m , and the rail appears to be about

130#/yard. Maximum grades will be 1.8 per cent, but the average will be

about 0.8 per cent. Initially only one track is being laid to provide

access to the area as soon as possible; a second track will be laid in

future years as traffic increases. Diesel locomotives will be used ini-

tially, but ultimately the whole line will be electrified. After the first

line has been laid, construction of stations and other permanent facilities

will begin, probably in 1979. At the present time it is planned that the

first train will operate over the whole

BU1

route in 1983, but this com-

pletion date may change depending on construction progress.

Seismic conditions are particularly severe on the east end of the

western section, but "all factors have been taken into account and all

problems have been solved with regard to the design and construction of

civil engineering works." There has been no real difficulty in getting

adequate quantities of suitable material for embankments and ballast.

Good granular material is obtained from the Lena River and other streams.

and from many excellent borrow pits along the route, generally within 2 km

of the line.

Special attention is given to controlling and minimizing disturbance

of the environment, particularly with regard to fish and wildlife habitats.

All project plants and decisions must be approved by local authorities as

well as by senior officials. Permission has been granted to take materials

from river bars and islands using barges. All quarries, borrow pits and

construction sites must be restored following use. Re-vegetation measures

will be used in certain areas such as river banks, borrow pits and embankment

side slopes. At the present time only grasses are being planted.

The western section lies within the discontinuous permafrost zone and

about 40 per cent of the route crosses permafrost terrain. Roadbed con-

struction is carried out winter and summer, but as a rule only rockfill and

coarse granular materials are placed during the winter. The perennially

frozen ground usually has a moisure (ice) content of 10 to 15 per cent,

--

but in some places it may be 3 0 p e r cent. The route has normally been selec-

excavated and replaced by better materials in some areas. In thermally

sensitive areas where settlement is expected as

a

result of thawing of

the warm-temperature and ice-rich frozen soils, allowances have bee11 made

for settlement in the design of the embankment. During the initial con-

struction phase the embankments are sometimes overbuilt to allow for

settlement, but it is expected and planned that additional material will

have to be placed, the roadbed widened, and slopes trimmed as part of the

maintenance program.

Roadbed fills in permafrost areas are at least

2

to

2.5

m thick. No

insulation of any kind - natural (peat) or synthetic - has been used to

date in the construction of embankments, although it may be considered for

some sections in the far east. When cuts have to be made in permafrost,

the work is done in two stages: the ice-rich material is excavated below

grade and backfilled with good material, usually above the desired final

grade, and good drainage is provided. After two thaw seasons, the embank-

ment and slopes are regraded and fill added as required.

Mr. Zaitsev said that design is difficult, but construction is

equally difficult, primarily because the area traversed by BAM is virtually

uninhabited and access is extremely difficult. On the western section

there is only one small village (located on a river) and no access road.

The first task, therefore, has been to move labour forces into the area

and erect construction camps at preselected locations. During the first

winter, men, materials and equipment were moved in on temporary winter

roads to start construction of the camps. Helicopters were used during the

spring, summer and fall. No airfields have been constructed for fixed-wing

aircraft. Boats and barges occasionally are used on rivers during high

water in the spring. Initially, only workers occupied the camps, but now

housing, schools and other facilities are being established and families

are being moved in. Permanent camps are located at the sites of future

towns and stations

-

approximately

50

km apart.

After the first construction camps were established, clearing of the

right-of-way for the railroad and for access roads was undertaken. An

access road is to be built along the full length of the railroad. Logs

taken from the cleared right-of-way are used for construction timber;

slash is being piled and will be burned each winter. Culverts are placed

to provide good drainage

-

corrugated metal pipes (CMP) are being installed

(we never saw any). This is the first time that such pipes have been

widely used in the

U.S.S.R.

Track sections (two rails and ties) are pre-

assembled in

25

m lengths at a yard in Ust-Kut and moved on flat cars to

the job-site. Ballast has been obtained mainly from the Lena River. Where

settlement will occur, only sand ballast is used; after the fill has

stabilized, crushed rock ballast will be placed. Some rock excavation is

necessary on the western section, most of it at the east end. It is ex-

cavated mainly by drilling and blasting, although some softer rocks can be

ripped. Construction operations and expenditures are closely controlled

and kept within an approved budget each year. Earthwork volumes and work

accomplished are measured monthly so that unit costs can be established

(we were not given any figures).

Mr. 'I'sernant is involved with scj-entific

aspects of design and con-

struction and is carrying out various research projects along the route.

These studies have ranged from evaluating the use of various types of

dredges (suction, mechanical-auger and bucket) and pipelines to excavate

and move granular materials from rivers and streams for construction of

the roadbed. Several test sections have been established in permafrost

areas and ground temperatures and settlements are being monitored to

evaluate the performance of embankments. Some test fills were constructed

more than a year in advance of roadbed construction; some were constructed

in the summer and others in the winter. Mr. Tsernant showed several slides

of the terrain, equipment and test sections to illustrate his talk.

After this session (which lasted about 3 hours), we were taken on a

tour of the Bratsk power dam before departing that evening by train to

Ust-Kut.

INSPECTION OF UST-KUT TO KUNEKMA SECTION OF BAM

We arrived at Ust-Kut (Lena Station) about 7 a.m. on Tuesday,

12 September. The two coaches were disconnected from the regular train arid

we proceeded eastward pulled by a diesel locomotive, making several stops

to examine various features of interest. These are described in the

following notes and illustrated by photographs. The location of the stops

is based on Lena Station

= 0

km.

Stops 1 to 7 were made on the first day. We stayed overnight on a

siding at Kirenga (km 170).

Stops 8 to 11 were made the next day (Wednesday

13 September) between Kirenga and Ulkan (km 210) where we arrived about noon.

That afternoon we travelled on a small bus to Kunerma (km 262), the end of

rail, to watch track laying operations. We returned to Ulkan and stayed

overnight on the train.

Stop 1 - km

22

(Figures

7 and 8)

This is an area that experiences extremely difficult icing conditions.

To control the flow of water and build-up of ice, a system of collector

ditches has been constructed on the hillsides to feed into a main ditch

and thus concentrate the flow under the railway. The water comes from the

springs on the hillsides and icings were evident prior to any disturbance

of the area by construction. Icings were particularly troublesome during

construction. The maximum flows occur during May each year.

The access road, which generally parallels and runs close to the

railroad (usually within 1 km), is generally located above (up-slope)

the line so that it will intercept and concentrate flows into the main

ditches that lead to the rail line. Fewer culverts and bridges are there-

fore required on the line. Because of deep frost penetration under the

snow-cleared access road, large icings form above the road and are a real

problem. Permafrost underlies much of the area, but has now thawed well

below the bottom of the collector ditches. Wood slabs and brush are laid

in the ditches to provide insulation and catch snow in an attempt to

control the depth and rate of frost penetration, so that water flows will

not be inhibited. We were told this technique has been partially effective.

The ditches in the photographs lead to a small railway bridge founded

on

H

piles with precast concrete girders. Crushed rock ballast is used

only on the approaches to bridges. Coarse sand and gravel is the normal

sub-ballast.

Stop 2 - km 25 (Figure

9)

' I ' h i s

is

sidc\hi

1 1 cut in

pcrcnninll

y

frozcrl rock.

Tn !:rnernl

.

shaly materials can

be

ripped, but harder rock has to be drilled a~ld

blasted. Some problems may be encountered with freezing of boreholes

during the drilling operation. In this area the distribution of perma-

frost is quite variable in areal extent and thickness. In many places

it extends to a depth of 10 m or more. Exposed slopes thaw and slough.

After they have stabilized (perhaps several years) they will be trimmed

and revegetated, and crushed rock ballast will be placed.

Stop 3 - km 44 (Figures 10, 11 and 12)

The roadbed is built over permafrost at this location. Sandy gravel

embankment material was placed in layers 30 to 40 cm thick; the only

compaction achieved is that produced by hauling equipment (mainly 14-ton

Deutz trucks) loaded by power shovel in borrow pits. The borrow pits are

normally located by drilling and sampling during the route survey, but

sometimes they are selected only shortly before or even during construction.

Exploration for sources of best material is very difficult, time consuming,

and costly

-

but necessary.

A 1 m wide berm has been construc.ted on the upstream side of the line

to keep water away from the main embankment and to help stabilize the toe.

The culvert in Figure 11 is constructed of prefabricated, unreinforced

concrete blocks (0.5 m deep by 0.5 m wide by 1.5 m long) made in plants in

Ust-Kut or Bratsk. The ground is usually excavated to a depth of about 3 m

below the culvert invert, a bed of compacted select granular material is

placed and the concrete blocks laid. No cracks were noted in this structure,

but there has been movement of the hand-placed concrete slabs. At a number

of locations concrete slabs were hand laid in the ditches and approaches to

culverts to prevent erosion (Figure 12).

Stop 4 - km 61 (Figure 13)

Sidehill cuts in permafrost were still thawing and sloughing. Slopes

will be trimmed later, when they have stabilized. Note settlement of

track.

Stop 5 -

km

83 (Figure 14)

Roadbed constructed along Niya River

-

difficult construction on

permafrost. A wide, rock fill base from 1 to 2 m thick was placed first

and then covered with granular material. Longitudinal tension cracks were

evident along the embankment. Additional fill is being placed regularly

as settlement occurs. It is expected that it will take 4 or

5

years for

this section to stabilize.

Stop

6 -

km 113 (Figure 15)

Roadbed is constructed across "MARI" area (muskeg, sparse larch forest

interrupted by hummocky bogs).

Very wet, thermokarst terrain. Permafrost

occurs in higher areas and hummocks. Soil profile is peat over clay over

silt. Much differential settlement is occurring as thawing takes place.

S t o ~ 7 - km 135 [ F i g u r e s 16 and 171

Cut i s al)out 10 111 d e e p tllrough a r g i 11 i t e ( c l a y s h a l c - M c s o z o i c j

,

n o pc\rmn f r o s t

.

Sloj)c,s arc vc.ry u n s t ; ~ l ) 1 c - rnt~c-h s lotl!!h i I)!! h:~s 1)(.~.11

c a u s e d by p e r c o l a t i o n o f w a t e r down v e r t i c a l p l a n e s . Good d r a i n a g e h a s been p r o v i d e d a l o n g t h e r o a d b e d , s o t h a t w a t e r d o e s n o t a f f e c t s u b g r a d e u n d e r r a i l l i n e : no f r o s t heave p r o b l e m s . A r g i l l i t e d e p o s i t s o c c u r randomly t h r o u g h o u t t h e a r e a . S t o p 8

-

km 179 ( F i g u r e 18) A t t h i s p e r m a f r o s t s i t e , two t e s t embankments ( n o t i n s t r u m e n t e d ) were b u i l t a b o u t one and a h a l f y e a r s b e f o r e c o n s t r u c t i o n r e a c h e d t h i s p o i n t . One t e s t s e c t i o n was b u i l t d u r i n g t h e summer, t h e o t h e r d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r . S e t t l e m e n t o f t h e embankment b u i l t d u r i n g t h e summer h a s been g r e a t e r and more r a p i d . Very good g r a n u l a r m a t e r i a l was u s e d f o r t h e main embankment and f o r s u b - b a l l a s t . The t h i c k n e s s o f f i l l i n p l a c e v a r i e s from 2 t o 4 m and was b a s e d on t h e r m a l c a l c u l a t i o n s t o p r e v e n t t h a w i n g . Kirenga c o n s t r u c t i o n camp i s v i s i b l e i n background.

S t o p 9

-

km 182 ( F i g u r e s 1 9 and 20)

Low wet a r e a w i t h p a l s a s and p e a t p l a t e a u s ( F i g u r e 19) i s t y p i c a l o f many p a r t s o f t h e Canadian d i s c o n t i n u o u s p e r m a f r o s t zone, Embankment 3 t o 4 m t h i c k shown i n F i g u r e 20 was b u i l t d u r i n g t h e summer a c r o s s t h i s t e r r a i n . The s o i l p r o f i l e a t t h i s s i t e i s a s f o l l o w s : 0 . 7 m o f p e a t o v e r 4 m o f i c e - r i c h o r g a n i c s i l t y c l a y o v e r a r g i l l i t e ( c l a y s h a l e ) . T h e r m i s t o r c a b l e s were p l a c e d a t s e v e r a l l o c a t i o n s t o m o n i t o r ground t e m p e r a t u r e s i n t h e f i l l and f o u n d a t i o n and i n u n d i s t u r b e d a r e a s . No s e t t l e m e n t gauges were i n s t a l l e d , b u t c r o s s - s e c t i o n l e v e l s a r e t a k e n p e r i o d i c a l l y t o measure movements. C o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f e r e n t i a l s e t t l e m e n t

i s o c c u r r i n g ; maximum t o d a t e i s 40 cm. Temperature measurements i n d i c a t e no change i n t h e d e p t h t o t h e p e r m a f r o s t t a b l e , b u t t h e mean a n n u a l ground t e m p e r a t u r e h a s changed from a b o u t -2°C t o a b o u t -1°C. T h i s embankment was n o t t h e r m a l l y d e s i g n e d , t h a t i s , t o p r e v e n t thawing o f t h e p e r m a f r o s t . The s p u r l i n e a t t h e l e f t o f F i g u r e 20 l e a d s t o t h e Kirenga R i v e r where t h e r e i s a l a r g e borrow o p e r a t i o n u s i n g s u c t i o n d r e d g e s t o o b t a i n b a l l a s t m a t e r i a l from t h e r i v e r . We were t o l d t h a t t h e r e were no e n v i r o n m e n t a l problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s work.

S t o ~ 1 0

-

km 190 ( F i e u r e s 21 and 221

C o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e l i n e was v e r y d i f f i c u l t b e c a u s e t h e r e was l i t t l e room between t h e s t e e p r o c k c l i f f s and t h e s w i f t - f l o w i n g Kirenga R i v e r . The embankment had t o be c o n s t r u c t e d by p l a c i n g f i l l i n t h e r i v e r a t t h e b a s e o f t h e r o c k c l i f f s . F i l l m a t e r i a l was h a u l e d 2 t o 3 km. Heavy r o c k r i p - r a p h a s y e t t o be p l a c e d t o p r o t e c t t h e embankment from e r o s i o n by t h e r i v e r . The normal r i v e r f l o o d l e v e l i s a b o u t 2 . 5 m above

i t s p r e s e n t l e v e l . Note a c c e s s r o a d between r a i l l i n e and s t e e p r o c k b l u f f s . S t o p 1 1

-

km 205 ( F i g u r e 23)

Embankment a b o h t 3 m h i g h was c o n s t r u c t e d d u r i n g w i n t e r o f 1977-78 a c r o s s t h i s swampy a r e a w i t h e x t e n s i v e p e r m a f r o s t . During w i n t e r con- s t r u c t i o n i t i s normal p r o c e d u r e t o remove snowcover w i t h b u l l d o z e r s .

A t t h i s s i t e some of t h e n a t u r a l p e a t was a l s o removed and s e v e r e d i f f e r e n t i a l s e t t l e m e n t s a r e o c c u r r i n g .

S t o p 1 2 - km 215 ( F i g u r e 24)

View from a c c e s s r o a d showing o u r locomotive p u s h i n g b a l l a s t s p r e a d e r

-

between Ulkan and Kunerma.

Stop 13

-

km 223 ( F i g u r e 25) Bridge a c r o s s s m a l l s t r e a m . C e n t r e p i e r c o n s t r u c t e d o f p r e c a s t c o n c r e t e s e c t i o n s i s founded on d r i v e n p r e c a s t c o n c r e t e p i l e s . The abutments a r e a l s o c o n s t r u c t e d o f p r e c a s t c o n c r e t e s e c t i o n s s u p p o r t e d by c o n c r e t e p i l e s t h a t have been g i v e n a s u r f a c e t r e a t m e n t ( b l a c k b i t u - minous c o a t i n g ) t o p r e v e n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n . S t e e l g i r d e r s a r e o n l y tempo- r a r y and w i l l be r e p l a c e d w i t h c o n c r e t e g i r d e r s - c o n c r e t e s e c t i o n s were n o t a v a i l a b l e when b r i d g e was c o n s t r u c t e d . S t o p 14

-

km 231 ( F i g u r e 26) I t was v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e t h e r o u t e i n t h i s a r e a because of v e r y narrow, winding v a l l e y s and h i g h h i l l s . T h i s s e c t i o n i s known a s t h e "cheeks" because h i l l s r e s e m b l e f a c i a l f e a t u r e s o f t h a t name. Road- bed had t o be c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e s t r e a m c h a n n e l and p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t e r o s i o n .

S t o p 15 - km 240 ( F i g u r e 27)

General view o f mountains a t n o r t h end o f Lake Baikal on t h e approach t o Kunerma. Roadbed c o n s t r u c t e d e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r (1978) and t r a c k l a i d w i t h i n t h e l a s t two months.

Stop 16

-

km 262 - Kunerma ( F i g u r e s 28, 29 and 30)

Track l a y e r i s a t work. R a i l h a s been l a i d t o t h i s p o i n t . Embankment has been c o n s t r u c t e d f o r t h e n e x t 15 km and p i o n e e r work such a s c l e a r i n g , g r u b b i n g , opening borrow p i t s , r o c k work, e t c . , i s under way up t o 40 km from Kunerma. R a i l s e c t i o n s a r e 25 m long and a r e f a b r i c a t e d i n Ust-Kut and h a u l e d on f l a t c a r s from t h e r e t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e . I t t a k e s a b o u t 4 min t o l a y a p a n e l o f t r a c k .

GENERAL REMARKS

A number o f i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e s were s e e n on t h e i n s p e c t i o n t o u r o f t h e c o n s t r u c t e d s e c t i o n o f BAM from Ust-Kut t o Kunerma (km 0 t o km 262) and u s e f u l d i s c u s s i o n s were h e l d . As u s u a l , i n t e r p r e t a t i o n was f r u s t r a t i n g on many o c c a s i o n s because p o i n t s c o u l d n o t be made c l e a r l y o r e a s i l y , answers t o o u r q u e s t i o n s were r a t h e r vague, and t h e whole o p e r a t i o n took a g r e a t d e a l of t i m e . D i s c u s s i o n s were two-way i n t h a t o u r h o s t s were v e r y i n t e r - e s t e d i n Canadian d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n methods and equipment. S u b j e c t s ranged from t y p e s o f c u l v e r t s t o c o n t r a c t o r - o w n e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s .

The f a c t t h a t we d i d n o t o b s e r v e c o n s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s o f any k i n d

-

t h e main purpose of t h e v i s i t

-

was a g r e a t d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , t o s a y t h e l e a s t . Whether o r n o t we would have been t a k e n f u r t h e r a l o n g t h e l i n e t o where c o n s t r u c t i o n was under way had t h e weather been good i s open t o q u e s t i o n .

1 1 1 R C > I I ~ ~ : I I , 1 1 0 t 11 i II!! I I I W 0 1 - I- C > \ C . I > I \ ~ i O I I : I I i 1 1 1 I > I . I > - . I I U : I * . - . c > I * I I . I V I *

call a p l ) r c c ~ ; l t e t h e c l j f f l c u l t l c s and 1)rot)lems t h e y a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g and w i l l e n c o u n t e r i n l o c a t i n g , d e s i g n i n g and c o n s t r u c t i n g t h i s major r a i l l i n k t h r o u g h a remote and i n h o s p i t a b l e a r e a . Many, i f n o t m o s t , o f them have been e x p e r i e n c e d i n Canada, b u t p e r h a p s n o t t o t h e same d e g r e e . I n many c a s e s we would, no d o u b t , a p p r o a c h some o f t h e problems i n a d i f f e r e n t way.

THE PROTOCOL

I t was q u i t e a p p a r e n t from o u r d i s c u s s i o n s t h a t t h e U.S.S.R. i s

most i n t e r e s t e d i n c o n t i n u i n g t h e program o f s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l c o l l a b o r a t i o n on Theme 3B. Many h o u r s were s p e n t i n r e v i e w i n g , d i s c u s s i n g and making changes i n a d r a f t p r o t o c o l t h e y had p r e p a r e d . They wish t o c o n t i n u e t h e exchange o f v i s i t s and t e c h n i c a l documents d e a l i n g w i t h t h e d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n o f r a i l w a y and highway embankments. They a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n v i s i t i n g a c t i v e r a i l w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s i n Canada, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n mountainous and n o r t h e r n a r e a s where d i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n c o n d i t i o n s a r e e n c o u n t e r e d . They a r e a l s o i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g more a b o u t o u r r a i l w a y and highway e a r t h w o r k d e s i g n p r o c e d u r e s , c o n s t r u c t i o n methods, m a t e r i a l s and equipment and p r o j e c t o r g a n i z a t i o n .

They were a n x i o u s t o f i r m up a program o f " j o i n t r e s e a r c h " t o b e c a r r i e d o u t d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1979-1985. T h i s s u b j e c t was d i s c u s s e d i n some d e t a i l and t h e meaning was c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d a s r e f e r r i n g t o s t u d i e s i n i t i a t e d and c a r r i e d o u t i n d e p e n d e n t l y by e a c h s i d e . I t d o e s n o t r e f e r t o s t u d i e s i n which b o t h s i d e s p a r t i c i p a t e j o i n t l y , w i t h w o r k e r s s p e n d i n g t i m e i n e a c h o t h e r ' s c o u n t r i e s , f o r example, n o r d o e s i t r e f e r t o d u p l i c a t e s t u d i e s o r e x p e r i m e n t s s p e c i f i c a l l y c a r r i e d o u t i n b o t h c o u n t r i e s t o compare r e s u l t s

( a l t h o u g h t h i s might happen by c o i n c i d e n c e o r by j o i n t agreement a t l a t e r m e e t i n g s ) . I t was a g r e e d t h a t e a c h c o u n t r y would c o o p e r a t e t o t h e f u l l e s t e x t e n t p o s s i b l e and keep t h e o t h e r s i d e informed o f s t u d i e s u n d e r way t h r o u g h t h e exchange o f d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s .

S t a t e m e n t s p r e p a r e d by P u b l i c Works Canada, Western Region, Edmonton, o u t l i n i n g r e s e a r c h n e e d s f o r n o r t h e r n r o a d s and s y n t h e s i z i n g e x i s t i n g remote s e n s i n g methods u s e d i n g e o t e c h n i c a l e x p l o r a t i o n f o r n o r t h e r n r o a d s were p a s s e d t o t h e S o v i e t s i d e . O t h e r documents d e s c r i b i n g g e o t e c h n i c a l and g e o p h y s i c a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f p e r m a f r o s t and r o u t e s u r v e y s f o r a p r o - posed r a i l w a y i n t h e Mackenzie R i v e r V a l l e y and p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d i e s o f p e r m a f r o s t problems on t h e Hudson Bay Railway were a l s o p r o v i d e d t o them.

I n a d d i t i o n , s t u d i e s t h a t have been conducted, a r e u n d e r way, o r p r o p o s e d t o e v a l u a t e t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f r o a d embankrnencs c o n s t r u c t e d on p e r m a f r o s t i n n o r t h e r n Canada were b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e d .

The p r o p o s e d program f o r s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l c o l l a b o r a t i o n on Theme 3B, which was i n c l u d e d a s Appendix 6 t o t h e September 1978 P r o t o c o l f o r r e v i e w and a p p r o v a l by t h e Working Group, i s r e p r o d u c e d a s Appendix 4 t o t h i s r e p o r t . The P r o t o c o l s i g n e d i n Moscow on 1 8 September 1978 was f o r w a r d e d t o M r . G . D . R e i d , Department o f P u b l i c Works, Ottawa, Chairman, Canadian s i d e , Theme 3 , on o u r r e t u r n t o Canada.

Figure 1. The Canadian delegation at TsNNIS, Moscow. From left to right -

M.S.

Wakely, D.I. Fedorov,

G.H.

Johnston,

N.A.

Peretrukhin, J.B. Millar, R.P.L. Daniels

Figure 2. The Canadian delegation at Bratsk. From left to right -

V.A.

Kuznetsov,

M.A.

Znitsev,

N.A.

Peretrukhin,

G.H.

Johnston,

R.P.L.

Daniels,

M.S.

Wakely,

J.B.

Millar,

F i g u r e 7 . S t o p 1 (km 2 2 )

Figure 9. S t o p 2 (km 25)

F i g u r e 11. S t o p 3 (km 4 4 )

F i g u r e 1 3 . S t o p 4 (km 61)

Figure 1 5 . S t o p 6 (km 1 1 3 )

F i g u r e 1 7 . S t o p 7 (km 135)

F i g u r e 1 9 . Stop 9 (km 182)

F i g u r e 21. S t o p 10 (km 190)

F i g u r e 2 3 . S t o p 11 (km 2 0 5 )

Figure 2 5 . S t o p 1 3 (km 223)

F i g u r e 27. S t o p 15 (km 240)

F i g u r e 29. S t o p 16 (km 262)

APPENDIX

1 .

(a> U.S.S.R. PROPOSED ITINERARY

FOR VISIT OF CANADIAN DELEGATION TO U.S.S.R. 8

-

1 9 SEPTEMBER 1 9 7 8 F r i d a v . S e ~ t e m b e r 8 1 6 : 2 0 h r s

-

a r r i v a l a t

S h e r e m e t ' e v o A i r p o r t ,

M o s c o w ,

( F l i g h t BE 708)

-

c a r

t o

h o t e l ( R o s s i a )

-

b r i e f a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h i t i n e r a r y

-

a d v a n c e

a i r

t i c k e t s p i c k - u p

-

e v e n i n g f r e e S a t u r d a y . S e ~ t e m b e r 9 09:OO h r s

-

d e p a r t h o t e l f o r T s N I I S

t o

-

d i s c u s s i o n a n d d e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n o f 1 4 : 00 h r s Program o n Theme 3B a p p r o x .

-

d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e p r o p o s a l s o f t h e C a n a d i a n s i d e c o n c e r n i n g P r o g r a m o f j o i n t r e s e a r c h f r o m 1 9 7 9

t o

1 9 8 5

-

a

s h o r t b r e a k f o r l u n c h 1 4 : 00 h r s

-

f r e e

t i m e

t o

-

h o t e l c h e c k - o u t 1 6 : 3 0 h r s a p p r o x

.

18:OO h r s

-

d e p a r t h o t e l f o r Vnukovo a i r p o r t 19: 50 h r s

-

d e p a r t F l i g h t 1 4 3

t o

B r a t s k , s u p p e r e n r o u t e S u n d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 0 02:35 (Moscow

t i m e )

-

a r r i v e

B r a t s k 07:35 ( L o c a l

t i m e )

-

car t o

h o t e l

Cx)

ITINERARY d u r i n g 10-17 S e p t e m b e r

w i l l

b e c l a r i f i e d

a t

B r a t s k a n d Kunerma.

Monday, September 11

-

t e c h n i c a l s e s s i o n a t " A n g a r s t r o y "

-

d i s c u s s i o n o f q u e s t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e

c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e r o a d b e d i n t h e

s o u t h e r n r e g i o n s o f p e r m a f r o s t and

w e s t e r n p e r m a f r o s t p a r t s o f

BAM

-

s i g h t s e e i n g a t B r a t s k

Tuesday, S e p t . 1 2

-

Wednesday, S e p t . 1 3

-

v i s i t t o c o m p l e t e d and u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n

s e c t i o n s o f r o a d b e d between Ust-Kut and

Kunerma

Thursday. S e ~ t .

1 4

-

F r i d a y . S e ~ t .

1 5

-

c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e v i s i t between Kunerma

and Nizhneangarsk

S a t u r d a y , September 1 6

-

d e p a r t

BAM

-

a r r i v a l I r k u t s k

Sunday, September 17

06:15 (Moscow

t i m e )

-

d e p a r t I r k u t s k , b r e a k f a s t e n r o u t e

1 1 : 1 5 ( L o c a l

t i m e )

13: 50 h r s

-

a r r i v a l a t Vnukovo a i r p o r t , Moscow

-

c a r t o h o t e l

-

f r e e t i m e

Monday, September 1 8

09:OO h r s

-

a s s e m b l e h o t e l l o b b y f o r pick-up by c a r

1 O : O O

hrs

-

c o n c l u d i n g t e c h n i c a l s e s s i o n a t TsNIIS

t o

-

d i s c u s s i o n o f r e s u l t s o f t h e v i s i t

13: 30 h r s

-

f o r m u l a t i o n o f p r o p o s a l s f o r Program on

a p p r o x .

Theme 3B

-

s i g n i n g o f P r o t o c o l

Monday, S e p t e m b e r 1 8 C c o n t ' d )

13:30 h r s

-

f r e e

time

t o

1 5 : 00 h r s

1 5 : 00 h r s

-

v i s i t t o M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n

-

f r e e t i m e

T u e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 19

Morning

-

f r e e

t i m e

13:OO

hrs

-

h o t e l c h e c k - o u t

1 3 : 30 hrs

-

d e p a r t h o t e l f o r

a i r p o r t

S h e r e m e t ' e v o

1 6 : 1 5 h r s

-

f l i g h t

JAL

441 t o P a r i s

( b ) ACTUAL TRAVEL I T I N E R A R Y CANADIAN DELEGATION

-

THEME 3 B V I S I T T O U . S . S . R .

-

SEPTEMBER 1 9 7 8 T h u r s d a y ,

S e p t .

7

D P . O t t a w a

-

AC # I 7 8 ARR. M o n t r e a l ( M i r a b e l ) DP. M o n t r e a l ( M i r a b e l )

-

BA # 0 7 4

F r i d a y , S e p t .

8 ARR. L o n d o n ( H e a t h r o w ) D P .

London

( H e a t h r o w )

-

B E # 7 0 4 ARR. M o s c o w ( S h e r e m e t

'

e v o )

-

m e t

by

D r .

P e r e t r u k h i n

and

c o l l e a g u e s

a n d

t a k e n

t o

R o s s i a H o t e l . E v e n i n g

f r e e

S a t u r d a y ,

S e p t .

9

-

v i s i t

C a n a d i a n E m b a s s y

-

M r . F.

I a n

Wood

( 1 h o u r )

-

v i s i t

T s N I I S ( 3 h o u r s )

-

d i s c u s s i o n s

r e v i s i t

p r o g r a m , C a n a d i a n

p r o p o s a l s ,

p r o t o c o l

and

t e c h n i c a l

m a t t e r s

of

m u t u a l

i n t e r e s t

-

t o u r

-

L e n i n H i l l s ( M o s c o w U n i v e r s i t y L o o k o u t ) , R e d

S q u a r e ,

K r e m l i n D P . M o s c o w ( V n u k o v o ) - A e r o f l o t # I 4 3

Sunday, S e p t .

1 0 ARR. O m s k D P . O m s k

-

A e r o f l o t # I 4 3 ARR. B r a t s k L o c a l T i m e

1 8 : 1 5

( E D T ) 1 8 : 4 5 2 1 : 1 5

08:OO ( = 03:OO EDT)

11: 1 5

1 6 : 4 5 ( = 1 4 : 4 5 L o n d o n ) 2 0 : l O ( = 0 1 : l O B r a t s k ) 0 2 : 0 5 (= 2 3 : 0 5 M o s c o w ) 0 3 : 2 0 (= 0 0 : 2 0 M o s c o w ) 0 7 : 3 5 (= 0 2 : 3 5 M o s c o w )

-

m e t

by

A n g a r s t r o y O f f i c i a l s

and

t a k e n

t o

T o u r i s t H o t e l

-

three

hour r e s t

-

t o u r

C i t y

of

B r a t s k

and

a d j a c e n t

a r e a s ,

paper

m i l l

and

v a c a t i o n

c a m p

Monday, S e p t .

11

L o c a l T i m e

-

b r i e f i n g o n BAM b y A n g a r s t r o y o f f i c i a l s

-

d i s c u s s i o n s

-

t o u r o f B r a t s k h y d r o - e l e c t r i c p l a n t DP. B r a t s k by t r a i n 19:30 Tuesday. S e ~ t . 1 2

ARR. Ust-Kut (Lena S t a t i o n )

DP. Ust-Kut o n s p e c i a l t r a i n o n BAM

-

7 s t o p s

t o

i n s p e c t problem

areas

-

t e c h n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s en r o u t e ARR. K i r e n g a ( s t a y o v e r n i g h t o n t r a i n ) Wednesday, S e p t . 1 3 DP. K i r e n g a o n s p e c i a l t r a i n

-

4

s t o p s

t o

i n s p e c t problem

areas

ARR. Ulkan DP. Ulkan o n b u s (FWD)

-

several

s t o p s

ARR.

Kunerma ( e n d o f t r a c k )

-

v i e w t r a c k l a y i n g o p e r a t i o n DP. Kunerma o n b u s (FWD)

-

several

s t o p s ARR. Ulkan ( s t a y o v e r n i g h t o n t r a i n ) T h u r s d a y , S e p t .

1 4

DP. Ulkan o n s p e c i a l t r a i n 1 0 : 00

-

t e c h n i c a l a n d p r o t o c o l d i s c u s s i o n s e n r o u t e

ARR.

Ust-Kut 20:OO

DP. Ust-Kut by t r a i n 22: 00 F r i d a y , S e p t . 1 5 ARR. B r a t s k

-

p r o t o c o l d i s c u s s i o n s DP. B r a t s k

-

A e r o f l o t ARR. Omsk DP. Omsk

-

A e r o f l o t

22:OO ( = 17:OO Moscow) 23:OO ( = 2 0 : 0 0

"

2 3 : 4 5 ( = 2 0 : 4 5

"

1

S a t u r d a y , S e p t . 1 6 ARR. Moscow

-

f r e e

time

-

s i g h t s e e i n g , s h o p p i n g

-

e v e n i n g

-

M o s c o w

C i r c u s Sunday, S e p t . 1 7

-

f r e e

t i m e

-

d i s c u s s i o n s

r e

p r o t o c o l

-

e v e n i n g

-

a t t e n d o p e r a A i d a i n C o n g r e s s H a l l by B o l s h o i O p e r a Company Mondav. S e ~ t . 1 8

-

v i s i t

T s N I I S ( 3 h o u r s )

-

t e c h n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s , s i g n p r o t o c o l

-

v i s i t

M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n

-

m e e t

w i t h M r . D.M. Ekimchenko

-

e v e n i n g

-

d i n n e r h o s t e d by D r . P e r e t r u k h i n

a t Rossia

H o t e l

T u e s d a y , S e p t . 1 9 DP.

M o s c o w

-

S w i s s a i r # 4 9 3 ARR.

W a r s a w

DP.

W a r s a w

-

S w i s s a i r #493 ARR. Z u r i c h DP

.

Z u r i c h

-

BE # 6 1 5 ARR. London ( H e a t h r o w ) L o c a l Time 00:05 ( = 05:05 B r a t s k ) 08:15 09: 00 ( = 10:OO

M o s c o w )

0 9 : 5 0 ( = 1 0 : 5 0

"

) 1 0 : 5 0 ( = 1 2 : 5 0

"

) 1 2 : 3 0 ( = 14:30

"

) 1 4 : 0 0 ( = 1 6 : 0 0

"

) Wednesday, S e p t . 20 ( 2 ) ~ ~ . London ( H e a t h r o w )

-

BA # 2 0 7 1 1 7 : 4 5 (= 1 2 : 4 5 EDT) ARR. M o n t r e a l ( M i r a b e l ) 1 8 : 5 5 (= 23:55 London) ( 3 ) DP. M o n t r e a l ( M i r a b e l )

-

F i r s t A i r X307 20:20 ( = 01:20

"

) ARR. O t t a w a 21:OO ( = 0 2 : 0 0

"

)

Notes:

(1)

R.P.L. D a n i e l s c o n t i n u e d o n

t o

C a n a d a , o t h e r s o v e r n i g h t i n London. ( 2 ) G . H . J o h n s t o n a n d J . B . M i l l a r o n l y (M.S. Wakely l e f t f o r T o r o n t o o n F l i g h t 2 h o u r s

e a r l i e r ) .

( 3 ) G.H. J o h n s t o n o n l y ( J . B . M i l l a r s t a y e d

over

i n M o n t r e a l )

.

APPENDIX

2 . N.A. P e r e t r u k h i n A.N. Z v i a g i n t s e v V.A. Kuznetsov MOSCOW D. I . F e d o r o v A.P. Mironov N . I . P o l y a k o v V.M. Kolosov D.M. Ekimchenko LIST OF CONTACTS I N SOVIET U N I O N 18-19 SEPTEMBER 1978

-

Head o f L a b o r a t o r y , T s N I I S ,

M o s c o w

-

l e a d e r o f S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n

t o

Canada, A p r i l 1978

-

S e n i o r r e s e a r c h e r , T s N I I S , Moscow

-

i n t e r p r e t e r

-

Group h e a d , SOYUZDORPROECT ( A l l Union S t a t e I n s t i t u t e f o r t h e P l a n n i n g and S u r v e y i n g o f Highways, S t a t e I n d u s t r i a l

C o m m i t t e e

f o r T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o n s t r u c t i o n ) M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n ,

M o s c o w

-

i n t e r p r e t e r

-

D i r e c t o r ,

TsNIIS

-

m e t

on S e p t e m b e r

9

a n d

1 8

t o d i s c u s s v i s i t , e x c h a n g e program and p r o t o c o l

-

Head o f s e c t i o n , TsNIIS

-

a t t e n d e d m e e t i n g s

a t

TsNIIS

-

Deputy head o f s e c t i o n , TsNIIS

-

a t t e n d e d m e e t i n g s

a t

TsNIIS

-

Group h e a d , I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n n e c t i o n s , D e p a r t m e n t o f F o r e i g n R e l a t i o n s ,

M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n

-

m e t

a t

a i r p o r t upon a r r i v a l from

Canada and a t m e e t i n g w i t h Ekimchenko

-

C h i e f , G e n e r a l T e c h n i c a l D e p a r t m e n t , M i n i s t r y o f T r a n s p o r t C o n s t r u c t i o n

-

a l l M i n i s t r y s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t e s ( a b o u t

3 0 ,

o f which TsNIIS

i s

o n e ) r e p o r t

t o

him

-

c o u r t e s y v i s i t , S e p t e m b e r 1 8