Wood River Levee
Location: Alton, Illinois
Client: Palmerton & Parrish
Services: Drilling
Overview:
Geotechnology joined in on a USACE St. Louis District contract to provide drilling services at the Wood River Levee. The project consisted of Professional Services for Geotechnical Exploration and Relief Well Pump Testing as well as Piezometer Falling Head Tests within the Geographic Limits of the Mississippi Valley Division.
Wood River Levee Project Background
The first major task under the contract required drilling services to install approximately 145 relief well pilot borings along the Wood River Levee System. This system runs along the Mississippi River in Madison County in southwestern Illinois. Drilling commenced on January 10, 2009 and was to be completed by March 30, 2010. The team completed drilling before rising river levels and right-of-entry issues prevented continued work on 30 borings added by the Corps during the project. Geotechnology also provided three drill crews to the six-crew team to complete the fast-tracked project.
Geotechnology’s crews drilled and logged more than 90 borings and 10,800 lineal feet during the 2.5-month project. Drilling methods included both hollow stem auger and mud rotary techniques. Additionally, Standard Penetration Testing was conducted to total depth using automatic SPT hammers calibrated in the field in accordance with ASTM D4633.
The investigation was conducted to provide data to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Information was used for the design and future installation of additional relief wells throughout the Wood River Levee System.
The one-year contract has four option periods. This contract is funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
