The river terminal features five berths, each 220 feet long, to handle barge operations in fluctuating river elevations of as many as 18 feet. The terminal also consists of two barge fleeting areas that can support mooring of up to 27 barges. The barge fleeting areas allow ThyssenKrupp to better manage and schedule barge distribution between the river terminal and the Alabama State Port Authority’s Pinto Island facility. 

The river terminal uses three gantry cranes for loading and unloading steel from hopper barges and one E-crane for materials handling. Thompson engineers considered crane runway beams, power supply and high-mast lighting in the design. 

The structure of the river terminal consists of steel sheet piling supported by an integral concrete relieving platform. The finish height of the terminal is approximately 20 feet above the relieving platform and 30 feet above low water.

Thompson’s responsibilities on the project included:

• geotechnical study for the entire ThyssenKrupp river terminal;
• environmental consulting and regulatory coordination;
• civil/site development plans for heavy haul roadway access from the plant down to the river terminal;
• utility design;
• bulkhead analyses;
• structural design of shore-side bulkhead and integral pile supported relieving platform;
• structural design of crane rail support, runway beam design;
• structural design of shore-side bulkhead and integral pile supported relieving platform;
• structural design of barge fleeting areas;
• dredge area design and plans;
• river hydraulic analysis for shoreline stability design.

The structural system includes load-bearing, decorative concrete masonry units (CMU) for the exterior and apparatus bay walls, limited structural steel and steel joist framing and roof deck. A barrel vault with exposed curved steel joists highlights the apparatus bay. The roofing systems include both metal panel and modified bituminous. Thompson Engineering implemented the design as structural engineer of record, and also provided civil engineering expertise.

The Saraland fire station design may also look familiar to people in Atmore. The Poarch Creek Indians asked Watermark Design and Thompson Engineering to adapt the design and provide the same services for a 9,091 square foot version, which displays the tribe’s colors. 

In October 2011, construction of a third fire station of similar design began in Theodore, Alabama. The 9,322 square foot fire station features several additional amenities such as a natural gas generator, a “Trillion” cell communication tower and a state-of-the-art visual and audible alerting system.

Fast-tracked and multi-faceted, the ThyssenKrupp Interchange project on US-43 in north Mobile County included the design of a full interchange, reconstruction of an access roadway as well as the relocation of underground utilities. Thompson Engineering also provided roadway and drainage design, geotechnical investigation and engineering and high mast and standard roadway lighting design.

After design, Thompson Engineering provided regulatory coordination involving the construction permitting and preparation of site-specific stormwater pollution prevention plans at each project site.

To read about Thompson Engineering's other projects with ThyssenKrupp, follow the links below:

• Alabama Industrial Training Facility 
• Administrative Complex

Thompson coordinated with federal, state, local and tribal authorities for NEPA environmental documentation services including wetland investigations, archaeological surveys, architectural surveys, threatened and endangered species surveys and mitigation, wetland delineation and mitigation, hazardous material surveys and impacts studies to farmland, air and noise and the floodplain. 

Thompson Engineering also provided regulatory coordination involving the construction permitting and preparation of site-specific stormwater pollution prevention plans at each project site.

Thompson Engineering was hired for almost three miles of roadwork including the widening of the road from a 2-lane to a 5-lane with bike paths and sidewalks. Major challenges considered include several historic properties and a historic tidal canal. Thompson’s project tasks have included concept, database, environmental, preliminary plans, right-of-way plans and acquisition, final plans, erosion control plans, utility plans, traffic control plans and bridge plans for a new 120 foot, triple span bridge. 

To date, 70% of project work is complete; state budget cuts have delayed project completion. 

• Development, implementation and management of MDOT’s storm water compliance operations.
• Review and updating of MDOT’s environmental policies and procedures and compliance with state and federal rules and regulations.
• Review of erosion control plans on MDOT, State Aid, and Local Public Agency (LPA) construction projects, as well as MDOT maintenance projects.
• Conducting monthly field oversight inspections on all MDOT construction and maintenance projects and permitted work on state right-of-way where soils are being disturbed, as well as State Aid and LPA construction projects that are federally funded.
• Providing storm water training for MDOT and contractors’ personnel and specialized storm water training for maintenance personnel.
• Development and implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS).
• Development of an Environmental Manual.
• Providing “On Call” assistance to MDOT in dealing with environmental issues related storm water permitting, and erosion and sediment control issues.
• Two unannounced inspections performed on each project per year.
• All other environmental tasks as directed by MDOT’s Program Manager. 

Before any work on the historic six span bridge began, Thompson Engineering was tasked with construction engineering inspection (CEI) and community outreach services. With 80 years of service to the public, and traffic counts nearing 39,000 vehicles per day, the project rates high on the community radar. The addition of lanes and signals on temporary detour routes was one of the first tasks completed.

Work on the 1,793 foot-long reinforced concrete arch bridge is on track, with a completion date in 2013. This project will involve the removal and replacement of more than 2,400 tons of concrete and more than 175,000 pounds of rebar.  Most of the concrete and rebar will be recycled and reused in the structure of the new bridge deck. When complete, the Henley Street Bridge will allow for 4 lanes of vehicles as well as bike and pedestrian traffic. To monitor the progress of work on the bridge – including high definition images recorded every fifteen minutes, click here. 

The project’s main focus was the development of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Battle Course, complete with mock village houses, an urban battlefield with street-side building facades, winding vehicle roads of varying widths and lengths, a foot path through a natural landscape and a pedestrian overpass spanning two roadways. The JIEDDO training course is designed to assist in training military personnel in real-world situations, specifically, on how to safely deal with IEDs.

Work to provide a self-contained training area called for Thompson’s expertise in storm water design, potable water and sanitary sewer connections, as well as HVAC and electrical systems. In addition, the training areas were designed so that a LEED 2.2 Silver Certification could be obtained. The JIEDDO Battle Course also utilizes a Classroom and Training Building designed by Thompson Engineering.

Thompson performed all engineering and exploratory analyses for the site development and design of shore side bulkhead structures, as well as construction management and construction engineering inspection services. 

Thompson’s responsibilities on the project included:

• regulatory permitting;
• geotechnical study for the entire Pinto Island development;
• Phase I/II environmental assessments of the site;
• Ecological and cultural resource surveys;
• environmental consulting and regulatory coordination;
• civil/site development plans for approximately an 11-acre “slab yard” and roadway;
• utility design;
• bulkhead analyses and shore-side bulkhead structures design;
• dredge area design and plans; 
• and design of a dike for a future dredge disposal area.

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)

Thompson surveys platform product piping before it is dismantled. If NORM levels exceed limits, Thompson evaluates disposal requirements for contaminated materials and coordinates segregation and proper disposal.

Lead-Based Paint (LBP)

Thompson locates and identifies lead-based paint on interior and exterior surfaces of the platform structures using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) lead paint analyzer.

Asbestos

Using the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) survey, Thompson collects and analyzes friable and non-friable materials and recommends handling of all materials identified with asbestos.

Visual Survey of Regulated Materials

This survey provides an indication of the presence of regulated materials and potential waste streams that must be handled during demolition. Thompson will collect air and waste samples for chemical analysis during decommissioning if needed.

Thompson also issues reports of its findings within a specific timeframe following each platform inspection visit to ensure proper project planning, execution, documentation and reporting, as well as recommendations for safe handling and/or disposal of hazardous materials. All handling and disposal activities are conducted in compliance with ExxonMobil policies and procedures and state and federal regulations.