HARBOR

Team BE started on limited notice with the most challenging area of Holcim – the harbor. They
were to construct one of the largest slack water harbors on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Over 1,800,000 cubic yards of material needed to be excavated and disposed of in spoils areas.
Approximately 900,000 cubic yards were excavated “dry” or conventionally. This was excavated
roughly 30 feet deep, utilizing large excavators and 40-ton articulated dump trucks. It was
disposed in two separate spoils areas, one of which created a large area for future laydown of
plant equipment and supplies.

The other 900,000 cubic yards was excavated “wet” or by dredging. This material was pumped by
dredge up to the dam site 1 1/2 miles away. The difference in elevation was approximately 200
feet. L.W. Matteson Company provided the dredging service. Depths ranged from 20 to 30 feet,
and consisted of silts, clays and sand.

In order to prevent sliding, protective rip-rap was anchored on the slopes. Special toe trenches
were dug 20 feet underwater and ranged from 4 to 15 feet deep and 12 to 40 feet wide. A
longreach excavator equipped with a GPS system was mounted on a portable spud barge to complete this part of the project accurately. Luhr Brothers provided and placed the rip-rap.
Massman Construction installed mooring cells to tie up barges, as well as sheet pile bulkhead for
a future barge loading/unloading facility. The cell construction, rip rap placement, bulkhead and
other finish work occurred at the same time, causing congested work areas on harbor waters.
However, effective management by Team BE allowed this area of the project to be completed
without incident.