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Nicholson Constructs Secant Pile Wall at Contaminated Site

PITTSBURGH, PA – March 29, 2010 – Nicholson recently constructed a support of excavation system in Bellaire, MI to facilitate the clean up of soils contaminated by underground fuel storage tanks that were removed in late 1970s and early 1980s. Removal of the contamination was needed to protect affected properties, the Clam River, and nearby Torch Lake. The close proximity of homes, garages, and an active business (Butch's Tackle) prevented the use of conventional dig and haul work to remove contaminated soils.

To support and isolate nearby buildings during the excavation of the contaminated materials, Nicholson constructed a 128-foot-long anchored secant pile retaining wall. Located within 6 feet of the existing building; the deepest part of the excavation was up to 15 feet deep and 13 feet below the groundwater elevation outside the excavation. The wall system consisted of 18-inch-diameter secant piles with 3.5 inches of overlap, and included 16 tieback anchors with a design load of 45 kips, two corner struts, and a waler system.

Initially, the plans called for the piles to have a 2-inch overlap and included 35 tieback anchors which crisscrossed at an external corner along the wall alignment. The minimal overlap increased the likelihood of gaps between piles at a depth of 10 feet, even with meeting the tight tolerance. Additionally, evaluation of the tieback alignments showed that many of them would intersect and a different approach would be required. Nicholson worked with the owner's engineer to revise the design and resolve these issues without a cost increase.

About Nicholson Construction Company:
Nicholson is a versatile geotechnical contractor specializing in deep foundations, earth retention, ground treatment, and ground improvement. As the North American subsidiary of Soletanche Bachy, one of the world's leading geotechnical contractors, we are part of a global network of geotechnical resources and expertise. We work in a wide range of industries and environments, from power plants and dams, to bridges and skyscrapers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Nicholson has offices around the country to address each region's unique geotechnical construction needs.

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Contact: Gretchen Connelly, 412-221-4500, gretchen.connelly@nicholsonconstruction.com

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