The Chatter 2021

Dundalk Team Hard at Work in Baltimore

By John Garland

Across the Patapsco River from Cianbro’s Baltimore office, the Infrastructure Team is hard at work upgrading the Dundalk Marine Terminal for the Maryland Port Administration (MPA). The project reconstructs Berth 3 to accommodate larger vessels and improves the existing storm drain system. The MPA is in the middle of a multi-phase plan to upgrade Berths 1-6 to accommodate larger vessels and anticipated sea level rise. Cianbro is currently executing the third phase with additional work planned by the MPA for Berths 1 and 2.

The project began in February 2021 with the demolition of an existing storage building, installation of a new king pile wall, a relieving platform, and major storm drain improvements. The team installed 650 feet of king pile wall, 294 h-pile, and over 2,600 cubic yards of concrete for the relieving platform.

The storm drain improvements were specifically challenging due to tidal infiltration, poor subsurface conditions, and a complicated tie-in configuration. The new system required the team to excavate and construct a new storm structure around an active 60-inch pipe. The team accomplished this by using pile-supported steel beams and steel mesh slings to support the pipe during excavation and construction. Once the new structure was in place, the team cut the existing pipe to tie it into the newly constructed system. Final tie-in involved a challenging elliptical cut through the new king pile wall 12 feet under water, and the removal of the old outfall system to allow for the completion of the new king pile wall and relieving platform.

Once the new relieving platform was complete, Cianbro began the demolition of the existing marginal wharf, including the extraction of over 1,700 timber pile, and phase 1 of the concrete test pile program. The team will begin driving the first of 336 precast concrete pile this month for the new wharf structure. The wharf structure will consist of precast concrete pile supporting bent caps, precast planks, and a concrete topping slab. The final structure will then receive backfill and concrete paving. Final improvements to the berths will include new bollards, fendering, and high mast lighting.

The project is currently being led by Rachel Carney, John Garland and Gabriel Sloane. The experience and knowledge of foremen Juan Salazar and Leonard Brooks has been essential to the team’s success in the field. The project is scheduled to be completed at the beginning of 2023 and is currently ahead of schedule.