PITTSBURGH – July 26, 2016 – Pittsburgh-based ground improvement specialists Menard Group USA have completed one of the largest CMC rigid inclusion projects in the country at Iowa’s I-29/US 275/IA 92 Interchange with the State Department of Transportation.
For the three separate contracts with the Iowa DOT, Menard Group USA installed extensive ground improvement systems that included both controlled modulus column (CMC) rigid inclusions and wick drains to support numerous embankments and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls.
In total, over 26,000 CMC rigid inclusions spanning close to a million linear feet at depths of up to 75 feet were installed at the site, along with more than 873,000 linear feet of wick drains. In addition, an unprecedented 15 load tests were performed to ensure the settlement requirements of the design were met.
“Our time in Iowa ends ahead of schedule and with an impeccable safety record, an accomplishment that demonstrates the ongoing commitment of our crew to work efficiently and without incident,” said Steve Darnell, Project Manager for Menard Group USA.
“Throughout the project, the Iowa DOT held us to a high standard of quality, and we are proud to have met those goals by extensively testing and reviewing our installation,” said Ian Jones, Project Engineer for Menard Group USA.
The I-29/US 275/IA 92 project is one phase of the $2 billion Council Bluffs Interstate System (CBIS) highway improvement project in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and is Menard Group USA’s largest project to date.
About Menard Group USA:
Menard Group USA is a design-build specialty geotechnical contractor offering expertise in ground improvement for sites with poor soil. By combining value engineering and innovative techniques, Menard Group USA delivers practical, sustainable solutions that can be attractive alternatives to deep (pile) foundations. As part of an international network of geotechnical resources and expertise, our team brings in-depth knowledge and creative problem solving to every project.
