Congratulations to the Memphis District for recently completing a $6M Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-funded project at Below Knowlton, Arkansas.
“Work to complete revetment stone repairs began on Sep. 27, 2022,” Project Manager Zach Cook said. “Work was then completed ahead of the required completion date on Nov. 8, 2022, despite record low water conditions and stone delivery delays due to tow restrictions.”
Contractor Luhr Bros., Inc. from Columbia, Illinois, executed the project work, which consisted of placing approximately 163,000 tons of Graded Stone C (400-pound maximum stone-size) to repair two bank failures. Repairing these banks ultimately restored them to stable slopes.
To ensure a navigable river, the Memphis District is charged with performing different types of construction and maintenance, which includes revetments, dikes, and other river training structures.
“Revetment is placed against the banks of the river at locations where mainline levees are threatened or where unsatisfactory alignment and channel conditions are developing,” Cook said. “Revetments assist in stabilizing the riverbanks, maintaining a desirable channel alignment, and act as important river infrastructure.”
Cook said this particular project is important because it helps stabilize the riverbank and also provides front-line defense and protection for the Mississippi River and Tributaries federal levee, which is located near the top bank of the river.
In closing, the district and project delivery team members would like to thank the project partner, Commercial Towing Interests (represented by the Lower Mississippi River Committee) for their unwavering support throughout the entire execution of this vital project. Without their backing, as well as their dedication to the project, cradle to grave, the success of this project would not have been possible.
Lastly, yet most significantly, the district thanks the project delivery team for the hard work and dedication they put in from start to finish. Not only was this project completed within budget, but it was also done ahead of time, all on top of the weight restrictions in place due to the historic low water conditions this region experienced this year.
With all this said, this district extends many congratulations to the following PDT members: Project Manager Zach Cook, Program Analyst Crystal Stegall, Team Leader River Engineering Preston Snyder, Technical Lead Engineer Cole Stonebrook, Design Engineer John Zacher, Construction Manager Del Warfield, Environmental Representative Mike Thron, Realty Specialist Bobby Porter, Cost Engineer Conrad Stacks, Contract Specialist Sequoria Wilson, Contracting Officer Monica Moody, Administrative Contracting Officer Daimon McNew, Contracting Officer’s Representative Chris Burroughs and Office Engineer Chase Arnold from Caruthersville Area Office, and Construction Representative Steven Southern.
The aforementioned PDT members – through their expert planning, thorough research and analysis, attention to detail, excellent communication with both the project partner and contractor, as well as their passion for everything this district stands for - clearly set the standard for what it looks like to expertly execute a project of this caliber.
Congratulations team! And thank you again, to each and every one of you, for all you do for this district, division, and nation.