Demolition of Abandoned Structures

This project involved the structural and geotechnical design associated with a sheet pile wall along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor at MP 6.1 in Secaucus, NJ. The wall was required to support the tracks in the area of demolition of an abandoned concrete structure. Structural evaluations took into consideration function of the wall, characteristics of the foundation soils and proximity of the wall to track and the existing structure. We provided structural design and geotechnical design to retain the adjacent track during demolition of existing industrial buildings. We also developed demolition plans for abandoned structures. The project complied with all federal, state, and local law, and OSHA requirements. A geotechnical investigation was conducted at the inception of the wall design. The goal of the geotechnical investigation was to identify any poor foundation conditions that would render a wall not feasible or require realignment of the wall, to identify subsurface conditions which would impede pile driving and to plan a detailed exploration to define design parameters. Details of all engineering considerations were provided in a comprehensive report. These include site conditions, equipment and accessories, methods of installation, and costmetric sequence. Engineering evaluation also included liquification potential during pile driving, anchoring, and potential for settlement.

The team prepared the necessary design drawings including a plan view, typical wall sections and details, along with back-up design calculations. We developed the structural design to retain the adjacent track during demolition of existing industrial buildings, and prepared demolition plans for abandoned structures. Plans and drawings were prepared as per Amtrak CAD standards.

This project included:

• Demolition and removal
• Excavation support and protection
• Earthwork
• Temporary protection shields
• Design drawings and reports