PROJECT OVERVIEW
Phoenix Project #1804
This project called for the installation of 24 drilled helical piles (“HPs”) to support two new snowmelter pads at Logan Airport in Boston, MA. One pad was located on the tarmac (“airside”) and the other was located on the other side of the crash barrier (“landside”).
Before construction could begin, the pile design had to be verified via a sacrificial pile load test. This test was performed in compression and had six reaction anchors to support the test loads. After successfully completing the load test we started our production work.
During the installation it was discovered that a portion of the proposed landside foundation had been located directly above an abandoned slurry wall installed during the “Big Dig” era. Unbeknownst to anyone prior to construction, we would soon learn that this slurry wall had been supported by temporary tieback anchors – as Phoenix observed several steel tendons wrapped around sections of obstructed helical piles. Despite the presence of many madmade obstructions, we were ultimately able to modify the location of our piles sufficiently to complete the installations.
The airside foundation was located within close proximity to Logan’s Terminal A building – and was within reach of several of the smaller aircrafts. In this highly sensitive environment, safe and effective materials handling and spoils management were paramount.
Working together with the project’s geotechnical engineer (Stantec) and client, our team was able to quickly adapt and respond to the subsurface obstructions encountered and we were able to install all 24 helical piles at both locations on this project.
