PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Bergerson Construction, Inc.
Marine & Heavy Civil Construction
55 Portway • Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 325-7130 • CCB# 63328
www.bergerson-const.com
depending on other people. For me, this is
proof that it was wise to diversify, so we can
present the full package to our clients. This
is a new step in the growth of our company.”
Creating cofferdams
For the C-43, ASAP will be building a dozen
cofferdams to support the construction of
the pump stations and water control structures.
In addition, it will be installing piling
for a number of permanent structures as
well as a canal retaining wall.
ASAP Engineering is designing and engineering
all the temporary sheet pile structures
that ASAP Installations and ASAP
Specialty Foundations will be installing for
the project. ASAP Installations is supplying
and installing the sheet piling, and ASAP
Specialty Foundations is supplying and
installing tiebacks, tie rods and wales.
According to ASAP lead engineer Rafael
Garcia, almost 12,000 feet of sheeting will
be installed over the course of the project.
For the temporary structures that ASAP is
building, he says, a total of 1,330 pairs of
sheet piles are needed, and that for the permanent
structures, 1,334 pairs of sheet piles
will be required. The sheet piles will range
from eight to 52 feet in length.
Garcia says that the clay layers typically
found below the dredge line have challenged
the ASAP engineering team, adding that
the team has also taken into consideration
the generally high water table in southern
Florida and the de-watering efforts that will
be required once the cofferdams are completed.
To reduce seepage, he says, ASAP
is installing hot rolled sheet piles so that
the cofferdam structures are as watertight
as possible.
“We’re using this type of piling, because
they have the best interlocks for controlling
water seepage. They’re more expensive, but
as far as de-watering goes, they’re the best
solution,” said Garcia.
According to Garcia, the excavation of the
cofferdams will range from nine to 30 feet
deep. The cofferdams’ performance is critical
given their proximity to the new dams being
built, Garcia says, and for this reason, some of
the cofferdams will be considered as sacrificial
to mitigate any potential settlement due
to the removal of the piles.
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 73
/www.bergerson-const.com
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