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Unexpected Obstacles Resolved With Rental &
Piling Equipment
Barnard Construction Co. Overcomes Water, Cap Rock,
While Building Storm Drainage System for Lubbock, Texas |
Water, water, everywhere.
That was the
biggest challenge in
building a new
storm drainage system
for Lubbock, Texas,
according to Mike Jones,
general superintendent on
the $30 million project.
Jones' company, Barnard
Construction Co. of
Bozeman, Montana, built
about 20 intake and outflow
structures in several
"playas," or lakes, which serve as natural stormwater
retention basins throughout southern Lubbock. The
company installed piping to connect the playas,
facilitating the flow of excess water during storms and
reducing surface flooding.
Before each intake and outtake structure could be
built, a temporary sheet pile cofferdam was erected to
ensure worker safety and to increase efficiency. "We
have to put in the shoring in case of rain," Jones
explained. "We're working in zero to 19 feet of water
for the shoring system," he said. "Some of the playas
are dry, but then we'll get some rain and the water
comes up." In mid-November 2001, Lubbock received
about three inches of rain in 48 hours, and the lakes
rose as much as 8 feet.
The crews had to
build causeways and
access pads so
they could get the cranes
close enough to put in the
sheet piling. "Our big problem
was access – getting close
enough to reach out into the
water," Jones commented.
The soil conditions were
good – a sandy lean clay –
however, work crews unexpectedly
ran into cap rock
at about 25 feet, causing a
change of plans. "You can
only pound down pile so
far with that cap rock,"
Jones said. The flexibility of Hammer & Steel – which
provided the sheet piling and equipment for this
project – helped Jones make the adjustments
required to keep the project running smoothly.
Originally Barnard Construction ordered a combination
of 40' and 25' long Hoesch steel sheet piling from
Hammer & Steel, which handled the rental of 400
tons of piling. But once the cap rock was discovered,
Jones realized he would need significantly more 25-foot pieces.
"Hammer & Steel has been super to work
with," Jones commented. "They did a good job of getting
us what we needed as soon as possible."
Barnard had also rented an HPSI 500 vibratory
driver/extractor for the job. With the switch to
shorter sheets, however, Jones decided to switch to
a lighter model. Again, Hammer & Steel was very
accommodating in getting the requested machinery
to Lubbock.
Jones' crew used Dawson sheet pile
threaders and ground release shackles to interlock
the sheets, and the superintendent said he was
very impressed by them. "This was
the first time my crew used the
Dawson threaders. They work much better than
others we've tried." Barnard Construction uses the
threaders because the safety of its employees is a
key concern, but the threaders have also increased
productivity in windy conditions. "The wind hasn't
slowed us down," Jones said. "We've used the
threaders in gusts up to 20 or 25 mph, and using the
threaders has definitely helped us there."
Equally impressed by the performance of Hammer
& Steel, Jones said, "It's been great working with
Doug Picker," who handled the project
out of Houston for Hammer & Steel. "He's done a
good job getting us anything we requested: spare fittings
and hoses for the hydraulic unit; finding us
used Dawson threaders to buy. All the piling has
been in good shape – it all looks new. And the deliveries
have been here when we needed them."
For Picker, making sure the deliveries were on time
has been a real point of pride. Lubbock is more
than a 10-hour drive from Houston and 20 hours
from St. Louis, two of Hammer & Steel's stocking
locations. "We have good relationships with several trucking
companies, which helped a lot, but since Lubbock is somewhat
remote, they weren't always willing
to make deliveries without charging an arm
and a leg," Picker noted.
Early in the project,
Picker developed a relationship
with a trucking
company based in
Lubbock, which has
provided "good availability
and decent rates in getting
there," he said.
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| Company Headquarters |
Branch Offices |
11916 Missouri Bottom Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63042
Ph: 800.325.PILE (7453)
Ph: 314.895.4600
Fx: 314.895.4070 |
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