Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Braddock Lock and Dam Project, partially designed by MWH, has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement awards program. Since project inception and continuing through the completion of construction in 2004, MWH efforts have contributed significantly to the design and construction of this notable project. The most important aspect of this project is its innovative use of non-traditional engineering concepts to construct a new gated dam on the Monongahela River.
Developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project involved the construction of a new gated dam 500 feet upstream of an existing 100-year old fixed crest dam which was removed. Instead of relying on the conventional in-the-dry dam construction techniques including intrusive and costly cofferdams, the engineering team relied on innovative in-the-wet method. This method featured the fabrication of two large floating dam segments off-site, which were transported to the project site via the inland waterways, then floated into place, and sunk down onto a previously constructed drilled shaft foundation system. This method reduced the overall construction schedule, mitigated environmental impacts and saved money as compared to more traditional construction methods. Construction schedule and cost was also saved by non-conventionally transporting and installing the four dam radial gates fully assembled in the fabrication shop.
MWH was involved throughout the project, providing support for advance studies of proposed in-the-wet construction techniques for the dam; advance engineering analysis for the 500-ft. long caissons retaining wall along the left abutment of the dam; detailed analysis, design and plans for the elevated service foot bridge crossing the existing locks and new dam; detailed analysis, design and plans for four 110-ft wide radial gates with high width to height ratio; and engineering support during fabrication, installation, and testing of the gates including transportation and installation of fully assembled gate.
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About MWH
Headquartered in Broomfield, Colo., MWH is a private, employee-owned firm with approximately 6,000 employees worldwide. The company provides water, wastewater, energy, natural resource, program management, consulting and construction services to industrial, municipal and government clients in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, India, Asia and the Pacific Rim. For more information about MWH, please visit the company’s Web site at www.mwhglobal.com.
