| MAIN MENU | KENTUCKY LOCK ADDITION - PROGRESS REPORT |
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Revised 5 April 1999 Kentucky Lock is located in western Kentucky at Mile 22.4 of the Tennessee River. A feasibility report completed in 1992 recommended a new 110' x 1200' lock adjacent and landward of the existing 110' x 600' lock. The project was authorized for construction in WRDA 96. FY 98 funding of $4M was used to continue WES model studies, the Lock DM, Transmission Tower DM, subsurface exploration, and initiate the Railroad DM. Construction on the project was initiated with the construction of an access road on the powerhouse island that was completed in August 1998. Due to fiscal reprogramming efforts within the Corps, the FY 99 funding plan of $12.6M is:
Subsurface exploration costs are included in the costs for the DM’s above. GENERAL Groundbreaking - The Project’s groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Friday, 15 October 1999 at 2:00 p.m. Acceleration of Schedule – In keeping with the Corps’ emphasis to reduce the funding carryover from CG projects, the Lakes and Rivers Division (LRD) Commander, BG Hans Vanwinkle, has sent a letter to the Nashville District (LRN) setting a goal of spending $25M on KY Lock in FY 00. Since this is significantly higher than our current estimate for our capability in FY 00, this will be a tremendous challenge. We will be examining all reasonable ideas for accelerating the project. One example being considered is the acquisition and stockpiling of materials and possibly engineered items. Any ideas for accelerating the project should be addressed to Don Getty. A meeting for the expressed purpose of schedule acceleration for the five ongoing navigation projects in LRD is scheduled for 22-23 April in Cincinnati. FY 99 Financial Status – Since 31 March marked the end of the first half of the fiscal year, it is a good time to assess how the Project is progressing from a financial standpoint. The table below compares the actual versus scheduled status of two important indicators as of 31 March: Actual Scheduled Expenditures $2.58M $2.98M Obligations $6.13M $6.18M We obviously have a lot of work to do over the next six months to expend a total of $12.6M if we have only spent $2.58M over the last six months. However, we are not very far behind the spending schedule developed back in October and modified in December (when we increased the planned Project expenditures from $8M to $12.6M). Taking into account the delays in the billing process from our consultants and other entities working on the Project, we are actually very close to our scheduled expenditures. It is especially encouraging that we are hitting our planned obligations so closely. We plan to issue approximately 11 task orders or contract modifications over the next two months that will significantly increase our obligations. These new design activities, the ongoing design activities, and the planned construction activities for this summer should dramatically accelerate the expenditures on the Project over the next six months.
C. PROGRESS FOR THE MONTH: Exploration The Corps’ Drill Crew has completed twelve of the seventeen offset holes planned for the west bank (WB) RR alignment. The Contract Drill Crew (H.C. Nutting Co.) completed all eight of the vertical soil borings at the downstream guidewall and have completed three of the ten angle holes for rock drilling. Recent testing completed and results available for drill holes from: transmission towers (island), proposed west bank borrow site, nine EB RR alignment holes, cemetery access road, and EB RR bridge piers and abutment. Near term drilling and testing schedule: Approx. 16 April – Tests results from 6 complete Vulcan borrow holes, first 8 downstream guidewall and tower holes, first 6 WB RR offset holes, and last 2 cemetery access road holes. 29 April – Completion of drilling for 17 WB RR offset holes 3 May – Initiate East Bank Hwy drilling by FMSM 3 May – Initiate drilling for 6 holes of EB Wye RR track 10 May – Initiate drilling for remaining 14 holes at Vulcan East Strip borrow site 23 June - Initiate West Bank Hwy drilling by in-house crew July – Initiate overwater drilling by Harza for: 1) Hwy bridge piers, 2) D/S cofferdam, 3) U/S approach walls’ drilled shafts, and 4) possibly downstream bent locations for truss assembly. Hydraulic Design Duration and Frequency Data - Charlie Irwin’s (LRN) development of KY tailwater duration and frequency elevations on a monthly basis is currently under review and should be distributed within two weeks. Hydrographic Survey – The hydrographic survey to locate the coffer cells upstream of KY Dam was completed the week of 22 March but equipment problems prevented the survey of the boat basin on the downstream left bank. This survey is now scheduled for the week of 5 April. WES Lock Model Modifications to accommodate the new upstream floating guardwall and new upstream topography in the Lock Model are complete and testing has been initiated. Initial tests indicate that the new upstream guardwall will result in an acceptable hydraulic design. However, it was agreed in a meeting on 25 March (minutes available soon) that small modifications to the upstream topography will be required. These tests should be complete this spring. WES Navigation Model Design and construction activities are slightly ahead of schedule for this effort. A site visit and meeting was held on 25 March to discuss progress to date and upcoming tests (minutes available). Major construction of the model will be completed by early April 99 with testing to begin by July 99, after calibration and base conditions have been finalized. A meeting with navigation interests will be held at WES to view the tests after base conditions have been substantially completed, probably in the July timeframe. WES personnel installed a third camera at KY Lock the week of 22 March for use in the impact analysis of the new upstream guidewall. Lock Design In-house efforts continue to focus on the support of WES’s Lock and Navigation Model work, existing lock stability, new lock stability, miter gate design, culvert valve design, preliminary electrical/mechanical design, east bank permanent embankment, and the development and managing of task orders. Electrical/Mechanical Concept Report – Efforts by Harza Engineers on this feature are proceeding well. A 70% report was submitted on schedule and a review meeting was held on 30 March (minutes available soon).
Site Development – John Manor of LRN has completed conceptual designs and drawings of the new lock’s site development (available upon request). A task order is being developed with Gresham Smith and Partners to take this conceptual design to a DM level design. A draft scope for this effort is currently under review. It is hoped that a kick-off meeting for this effort will be scheduled for early May at the site.
Lower Guidewall – Design efforts by Harza for this feature are proceeding well. Aggregate samples from two quarry sites were obtained on 26 March and Roller Compacted Concrete testing is scheduled to commence on 14 April. A 30% submittal is expected in April.
Upper Approach Walls - It is planned to issue a task order to advance the upstream guardwall to DM level to one of EP-D’s new IDT Contractors upon their selection (see below). Floating Caisson– A site visit with Inca Engineers to view the existing floating caisson is planned for the week of 5 April. Miter Gate Design – Design efforts by the Louisville District Corps of Engineers (LRL) on this feature are proceeding well. Harza engineers are using preliminary geometry developed by LRL for the concept designs of the gate operating machinery. As-built Drawings – Preliminary efforts have been initiated by TVA’s Hydro Engineering Group for this feature. It is expected that most of the as-builts will be complete by the end of this FY.
EB Permanent Embankment – The DM level design of this feature is currently underway by EP-G and is expected to be completed in early spring. EP-D New IDT’s - The selection process for four new specialty lock A/E contracts is proceeding well. The first two contractors are expected to under contract in April 1999 with the remaining two following soon thereafter. Disposal/Contractor Laydown Areas Efforts have been initiated to more accurately determine the disposal and contractor laydown areal requirements for the various construction features of the Project. The last such assessment was made in the early 1990’s and changes/refinements in the Project’s design have prompted this reassessment. A site visit by engineering personnel is planned for mid-April to examine possible locations. Sites being considered on the TVA reservation include the west bank overbank area just upstream of the boat basin and downstream from the tailwater restroom and various smaller areas on the EB. If these sites are considered viable, then they will be addressed in the Hwy EA. The 1992 EIS only identified one terrestrial disposal site – a site presently owned by Vulcan Materials on the EB. Discussions have been initiated with Vulcan officials in an effort to determine the current viability of this site. Cofferdam DM The task order to Harza Engineers for the design of the downstream cofferdam to a DM level was awarded on 30 March. A kick-off meeting for this effort has not yet been scheduled. The geotechnical design of the upstream cofferdam and the overall development of the Cofferdam DM will be the responsibility of EP-G. It is anticipated that the structural design of the upstream cofferdam and the grouting plan for the lock will be by separate A/E contracts issued later this FY. Hwy/RR Quarterly Design Meetings – The next quarterly design meeting is scheduled for 11-12 May at the Lake Barkley Resource Managers office. The RR-only meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of 11 May. The joint Hwy/RR meeting is scheduled for the morning of 12 May and the Hwy-only meeting that afternoon. It was originally planned to have the July quarterly meeting at WES to view the pier testing in the Navigation Model. However, it was decided at the 25 March WES meeting to combine the testing of the bridge piers and training dikes. Therefore, the Hwy/RR meeting at WES will be postponed, probably until the late summer or early fall. The summer quarterly meeting will now be held at the site, tentatively the week of 12 July. WES agreed to provide a submittal date that LRN (i.e., Hanson and ACE) would have to furnish the initial pier configurations for both bridges to meet the model’s revised testing schedule. Highway DM DM Design – The contract for this design effort was awarded to American Consulting Engineers (ACE) on 30 March. ACE’s efforts for the next month will concentrate in three areas: Determination of pier loading and pier type studies Bike bridge layout and analysis Urban vs. rural sections’ analysis and alignment studies A task order is being prepared to have Fuller, Mossbarger, Scott and May to perform the EB drilling and the geotechnical reports necessary for the Hwy DM. Coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – In a phone conversation on 22 March, Mr. Charles Raymer, Deputy State Highway Engineer, agreed that the cost limitations proposed in Secretary Codell’s letter of 7 December 98 would not be adhered to by the KyTC. Therefore, the KyTC will be fully funding the expansion of the Hwy 62 relocation from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane roadway. Mr. Raymer promised a response to LRN’s letter of 30 December 1998 that will document the KyTC’s position. LRN is continuing with the drafting of a betterment sharing agreement with the KyTC that needs to be in effect by approximately July 1999. Railroad DM Walker Cemetery Access Road – Advertisement of the construction contract for this road is currently scheduled for June 1999 with construction to commence by the end of this FY. These dates could be impacted if graves are found outside the cemetery’s fenced boundaries along the proposed road’s alignment. Issuance of a task order is planned in April to an A/E firm that will attempt to determine if any graves are located in this area.
RR Design – In addition to the cemetery access road and WB utilities, Hanson Engineers have performed the following activities over the last month: 1) studied alternatives for the north leg of the wye track, 2) continued the preliminary design of the truss span, 3) completed preliminary design of the approach span piers, 4) initiated collection of information for MCACES cost estimates, and 5) initiated preliminary foundation design for the piers. North-Leg Wye track alternative analysis – Hanson Engineers are nearing completion of an analysis of both an eight and a nine degree curve for this wye track. Upon completion of this study, input will be solicited from both the P&L Railway, Inc. and Vulcan Materials in an effort to select one of the two alignments. Modifications to Hanson Contract – A scope of work for this effort is being finalized and negotiation efforts are scheduled for the week of 12 April. Because of the complexity and volume of extra work included in this scope for this FY, it is expected that the RR DM’s completion date will be slipped by approximately two months. WB Utility Relocations – Hanson surveyors will be returning to the site the week of 12 April in an attempt to locate all of the affected water lines. It is hoped that Hanson will complete the design of the water and sewer lines to a 50% level by the 11 May quarterly meeting and it is anticipated that this construction contract will be advertised in August. Required coordination and development of legal documents with the owners could impact this schedule. Mr. Don Fulcher, a new attorney in LRN’s Real Estate office, has initiated these legal efforts. Geotechnical Design – Harza’s 95% report for the WB DM geotechnical study is expected to be submitted the week of 12 April. A task order to Harza to perform analyses for the EB retaining walls and wye track geotechnical studies is planned to be issued in mid-April. Another task order will be issued to Harza to complete geotechnical studies for P&S on the WB embankment upon completion of the testing of the 17 WB RR offset holes. P&L Purchase Order – A purchase order is under development by LRN to reimburse the P&L Railway for expenses incurred during the review of the design of this relocation. TVA Transmission Towers Relocation Eight Upstream Towers (four on each bank) - Design efforts by TVA engineers are proceeding, with foundation/footing designs scheduled for completion by the end of May. TVA plans to use in-house forces to drive the piles necessary for the tower foundations on the powerhouse island starting early this summer. It is still not known what forces will be used to construct the concrete footings for all eight towers. TVA forces will erect the tower steel, possibly starting the erection of one tower this FY. TVA is also examining means to expedite this relocation. Three Downstream Towers (69 kV) - A decision on relocating the three downstream towers is still pending based on an updated engineering analysis being performed by Harza Engineers in their DM level design of the downstream guidewall. The results of Harza’s analysis are expected to be included in their 30% submittal of the D/S guidewall DM, scheduled for submission in April. A final decision on the fate of these three towers will be made after a review of this report. Environmental Highway Environmental Assessment - It is now proposed that the terrestrial field survey and entire biological assessment be completed by TVA personnel by June. Consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service will commence shortly thereafter. This schedule should allow for the preparation and completion of an Environmental Assessment prior to the advertisement for the construction of the West Bank RR/Hwy embankment early next winter. Coordination Meeting – Tim Higgs (LRN) plans to schedule an environmental coordination meeting on site in late April or early May with all interested parties. The agenda will include all known areas to be included in the biological assessment (including new disposal sites), a discussion of HTRW issues, new wetlands mapping, and schedules/responsibilities for all permitting requirements. Environmental Mitigation - Boat Ramp and Fishing Coffer Cell – Sam Perry out of TVA’s Norris Office continues to advance the design of a new boat ramp and associated facilities on the West Bank. He also has started examining the possibility of raising the existing fishing coffer cell below the powerhouse to reduce its flooding potential and increase its functionality for the fishermen. Construction of these features is planned to be initiated this summer. Wetlands Evaluation – Starting the week of 12 April, Hanson surveyors plan to survey in the locations of all the wetlands delineated by LRN personnel in March. Hanson Engineers will also develop CADD mapping of the wetlands upon completion of the survey. Miscellaneous CADD Standards/Drawing Title Blocks – LRN and TVA are continuing their efforts to develop a drawing title block to be used for this Project. LRN is also updating the CADD standards to be followed in the development of all drawings. Development of Drawing Library System – LRN plans to develop a library of all drawings that can be accessed by all members of the design team. When it is complete, a message will be sent to all design team members. KY Lock Telephone Directory – A list of all organizations and key personnel involved in the design of this project that contains their address, phone numbers and email addresses is available upon request to Don Getty, (615) 736-2346 [don.b.getty@usace.army.mil].
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