West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #7 (Welding & Concrete Prep)

Mike underway on the first support strut that will help maintain the top width of our newly formed sheet pile channel

Much of the last week or so at the project site has focused on preparing for the highly anticipated concrete trucks that -- weather permitting -- will be delivering the material that will serve both as the base (or floor) of our newly installed sheet pile channel and as the 12'-wide dike crossing (or bridge) for what should be decades to come.

Scott, lining things up just right

Weather has by-and-large been very cooperative thus far with this project. We've definitely had hot days (although not in the last few weeks), some windy days, some chill, and some rains, but the guys have only had to miss a couple days due to weather since we started back at the very end of August. I've learned not to take weather for granted in this work. (More on that subject below.)

I've also learned that even a little rain on a job like this makes for a lot of mud and mess -- especially when working in our environment. Much of last week was spent fine-tune adjusting the sidewalls of the steel channel. The sides could be subtly pushed or pulled using an excavator or payloader positioned on either side, but the guys still do their fair share of walking. So with excessively heavy mud the consistency of peanut butter, it gets taxing. I have been pleased to see them backfilling on the back sides of the sheet pile, and I was even more excited to see some fresh (clean), crushed limestone delivered yesterday. Not only did it serve to make the bottom of the channel somewhat navigable, it also allowed for somewhat easier walking around certain areas of the project site.

Several inches of crushed limestone beneath newly fabricated and installed rebar mats 

A close-up of the two-tiered rebar mats, spaced 6" on center
(click to enlarge)

Work was progressing both on the floor and at the top of the ever-evolving structure. Just fabricating the rebar mats (that will ultimately reinforce 8" of concrete throughout the channel and 12" of concrete directly beneath the dike crossing) takes a lot of time, effort, and craftsmanship. They were put in place yesterday.

As I left the project site late in the afternoon, the crew was busy wrapping up the third upper support strut that was installed for the day. I believe they have a couple more to put in place before turning their attention to the structural steel components of the dike crossing. If we can get the weather to cooperate -- which is a BIG if, considering the current forecast -- we should be ready for those rolling concrete trucks to work their magic. Fingers crossed.

So much fun seeing conceptual plans evolve to engineering drawings
and then witness the vision taking shape on the ground