U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awards Center Hill Dam Barrier Wall Construction Contract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District announces today the award of a $106 million contract to Bauer Foundation Corporation to install a barrier wall at Center Hill Dam, which was officially awarded late yesterday.
“This important construction will provide a barrier to protect the earthen portion of the main dam from seepage problems. The barrier will significantly improve the long-term reliability of the dam and public safety” said Project Manager Linda Adcock.
Most of the construction will be accomplished below ground and requires specialized equipment as well as close monitoring.
The main components of work are:
Enlarge a work surface along the upstream (lake) side of the main dam earthen embankment
Construct approximately 200,000 square feet of concrete panels and columns in two phases through the embankment extending downward 120 feet into foundation rock to form a minimum 2-foot thick continuous barrier wall
Highway 96 across the dam is planned to remain open, as well as Long Branch Campground downstream of the dam, throughout the two and one-half year contract. The Center Hill Dam has been identified by the Army Corps of Engineers as a high risk dam due to foundation seepage. A 2008-2010 grouting contract was an important first step to reduce the seepage and to prepare the foundation for construction of the barrier wall.
“We are currently studying the appropriate improvements for the saddle dam, a smaller earthen dam northeast of the main dam” Adcock said.
The saddle dam work will be the third large contract. A final small contract will be required for site restoration.
To read more on the project, the seepage problem and the fix, visit the Nashville District webpage at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/CenterHill. For more information about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, visit the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and http://www.facebook.com/centerhilllake, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.