A Memphis District Project Delivery Team recently completed a $5.3M Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-funded revetment project in Bauxippi-Wyanoke, Arkansas.
Work began in November last year when historic low water conditions and tow restrictions delayed much of the river industry’s transportation of goods. Despite these less-than-stellar conditions, the team completed construction ahead of schedule, finishing all work on Dec. 16, 2022.
Contractor Luhr-Crosby, LLC from Columbia, Illinois, executed the project work, which consisted of placing approximately 142,000 tons of Graded Stone C (400-pound maximum stone-size) to repair a large bank failure upstream of West Memphis Port to restore the riverbank to stable slopes.
Project Manager Zach Cook said this project is important because it helps maintain a safe and reliable navigation channel in this river reach.
“It also protects the flood risk management infrastructure in this area with the Mississippi River levee system located nearby,” Cook added. “Finally, this completed work also helps protect the West Memphis Port facility located immediately downstream, which is a vital engine for the local economy in moving grains, steel, and other commodities.”
To ensure a navigable river, the Memphis District performs different types of construction and maintenance similar to this project, including 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. “Revetment projects like this one assist in stabilizing the riverbanks, maintaining a desirable channel alignment, and act as important river infrastructure.”
The Memphis 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 steadfast support throughout the completion of this imperative project. Without their backing and dedication to the project, cradle to grave, the success of this project would not have been possible.
Finally, the district thanks the project delivery team. Not only was this project completed within budget, but it was also done ahead of schedule, despite imposed tow restrictions at that time.
Congratulations to the following PDT members: Project Manager Zach Cook, Program Analyst Crystal Stegall, River Engineering Team Leader Preston Snyder, Technical Lead Engineer Cole Stonebrook, Design Engineer Jennifer Redden, Construction Manager Del Warfield, Environmental Representatives Mike Thron and Pam Lieb, Cost Engineer Kevin Keller, Contract Specialist Sequoria Wilson, Contracting Officer Monica Moody, Administrative Contracting Officer Daimon McNew, Contracting Officer’s Representative Chris Burroughs, Project Engineer Johnny Holloway, and Construction Representative Steven Southern.