Storage and Rail Facility - Phase II
Even before Phase I of the Harrison Hub Facility in Scio, Ohio became operational, the site’s progressive owner was moving forward with Phase II of the development at this sprawling facility. Having been a key contributor to the successful construction of Phase I of the hub, E.S. Wagner Company was well prepared to serve a similar role in the construction of Phase II.
Phase II was complicated by the presence of existing wetlands to an even greater extent than was Phase I. In fact, Phase II was effectively divided in two by a huge, depressed swamp. While the owner worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain an entry permit, E.S. Wagner set out to complete as much work as possible while maintaining the wetlands in a completely undisturbed state. With work beginning in early July, but permitted access to the wetlands not expected until late August, E.S Wagner was challenged with establishing access to both sides of the permitted zone without impacting it. To accomplish this, E.S. Wagner installed a temporary steel bridge, designed and fabricated in-house, suitable for use as a haul route for high capacity haul units with “zero impact” to the wetland area.
Originally anticipated in late August, the wetland entry permit was actually issued approximately a month later than expected. The potential impact of this delay was initially projected to be a completion of the grading activities in late December. With vast experience in earthwork operations at that time of year, E.S. Wagner was well aware that steps must be taken to achieve substantial completion much earlier. E.S. Wagner developed a schedule acceleration scenario involving additional equipment and multiple shift operations that ultimately resulted in the completion of all critical earthwork operations in late October. These steps would have the project in position to achieve completion in late November, more than two weeks ahead of the initial project schedule.
Significant items completed on this project are as follows:
- 745,000 cubic yards of excavation
- 378,000 cubic yards of shot rock excavation
- Just under 2 miles of underground storm sewer
- 37,000 tons of rip-rap for wetland stabilization
- Placed over 100,000 tons of aggregates
VALUE
The principal challenge of this project was constructing a stable embankment through the vast wetland area in the middle of the site. After review of the design team’s first recommendation for construction of this embankment, E.S. Wagner immediately became involved with developing a better, more cost effective solution. Drawing on past experience, engineering judgment and knowledge of the site conditions, E.S. Wagner teamed with the engineer and owner in implementing a method that would eliminate tens of thousands of tons of purchased rip-rap in favor of using the shot rock material available on site. The process worked perfectly while saving the owner hundreds of thousands of dollars and valuable weeks on the project schedule.
