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| Sheet pile steel staged at the project site |
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| Jason, fittingly, waterproofing between tiers |
Never did I think 56 sections of steel could make me so happy. But the photo above, taken just before 5:00 pm last Friday afternoon, has been a LONG time coming. Grant writing, conceptual designing, permit applications, grant planning, RFP development, project advertising, budget revisions, contractor selection, grant administration, design modifications, project mobilization, old structure demolition, rain, heat, more rain, humidity, geotechnical analysis, structural engineering confirmation, precast concrete delivery . . . and this week, near completion of precast installation (see below). And finally, the steel has arrived at the project site.
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| #2 of 4 being lowered into place |
It's already starting to "look like something." But over the next week or two, our new "water conveyance structure" should really start coming together visually.
We only ended up loosing one day to weather in the last week (Tuesday). And considering the forecast at the start, that wasn't too bad. We might have gotten 0.75" over 24 hours, but the way the clima-terrorists started talking, we could have gotten 3"+. Some did around us, so they were right and we felt fortunate to have dodged a bullet. Weather can never be taken for granted, especially this time of year.
Fittingly, much of the week focused on the placement and
waterproofing of the four precast concrete structures. They need to be able to hold water so that they don't destabilize the substrate around them. They need to be waterproofed top to bottom. This is accomplished with two beads of tar tape between (above and left) and a finish wrap of tar around the exterior (below). This week, they will also be waterproofed (more or less) in between with the final addition of some filler grout. Roy and I have been very impressed by our contractor's attention to detail thus far. From measuring and remeasuring to checking and rechecking to confirm all is plumb and level, they should have a solid and accurate reference point from which they can build out the sheet pile. Hopefully by this time next week, I'll be able to document the build-out in another photo update.
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| Finish tar seal being placed around seam between #1 and #2 |
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| #3 of 4 being lowered into place |
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| #4 of 4 in place (yet to be finish sealed to allow for final settling as #4 compresses tar on top of #3) |
