PROJECT OVERVIEW
Phoenix Project #1910
The project, which originally called for the installation of 178 drilled micropiles (“DMPs”), ultimately grew to in excess of 200 piles. These piles were installed over a six month period in 2019 and 2020, as were required as part of the new expansion Logan International Airport’s Terminal E. Most of these piles would support foundations of the new addition (or reinforce existing ones), and some were also added to stabilize a large tower crane that was erected to facilitate construction.
Prior to production work, Phoenix set out to use the pile load test program as a means of providing value engineering to our Client and its Owner. The project’s geotechnical engineer (GEI Associates) was receptive to this approach, which led to a successful and collaborative effort. By testing the sacrificial pile to failure rather than to a predetermined maximum test load, we were able to ascertain the true bearing capacity present within the site’s underlying bearing stratum (bedrock). The results of this test enabled us to eliminate almost 1,000 feet of rock drilling from the project, yielding substantial time and cost savings back to the Owner.
Following the successful test program, production work began in earnest – and this high profile project was not without its fair share of challenges. The project schedule called for Phoenix to simultaneously operate and support up to three (3) drill rigs working both landside and airside, including 6 DMPs inside an active baggage handling facility. Very limited headroom within the baggage facility required the modification of one drill rig and the use of very short sections of drill tooling, which then had to be wheeled into the building on dollies since conventional support equipment would not fit.
Both inside and outside, maintaining safe work areas while also not impacting or interrupting Logan’s revenue activities was paramount. The use of diverter heads, hoses, and recirculation tanks allowed Phoenix to control spoils and keep them away from very critical structures including the Terminal E building and several nearby commercial airliners. The project’s site contractor (The Dow Company) did a great job helping to contain and dispose of the drill spoils to keep the operation running safety and smoothly for nearly six months.
Phoenix completed all piles successfully, safely, and ahead of schedule. In the end, we installed nearly 3 miles of permanent casing, more than 75 tons of reinforcing steel, and over 7,500 bags of cement.
