Esquimalt Graving Dock - Service Entry Substation / Pump House Substation

Township of Esquimalt

As part of the $20M upgrade to the existing power and communications system, Public Works and Government Services Canada constructed two new electrical substations, the Service Entry Substation and the Pumphouse Substation at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Also included in the project was the installation of over 500 meters of high voltage ducting, low voltage ducting, and communications ducting. The project was the first step in bringing in a stable power source to the facility, as well as upgraded communications infrastructure. 

Westbrook Consulting was engaged as the civil engineering consultant for the detailed design and construction engineering services. Works by Westbrook also included conducting Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys to identify existing underground infrastructure, topographic survey, design of roadworks, site grading and storm water management, preparation of tender specifications, and site inspections. 

One of the challenges of the project was that due to the age of the facility, records of the location of some of the existing underground infrastructure were lost, as such Westbrook was required to survey the proposed route with ground penetrating radar and investigate the detected piping to determine its use and routing. Challenges for the construction team included working around an active dry dock and working around the dry dock’s client’s schedules for ship repair.

Construction was completed in 2017.

Key Personnel: Bruce Crawshaw; Ian Anderson