Case Studies
Bethany Beach Boardwalk
Situation: The original job description seemed pretty ordinary: construct a boardwalk
supported by helical piles in the Bethany Beach, Delaware, area, connecting
the beach to the saltpond, so nature lovers could enjoy areas of the park
previously inaccessible to humans. The walkway was to be six feet wide
and thirty inches off of the ground. The tricky parts? Don’t disturb
anything beyond one foot on either side of the walkway. The “ground”
itself is more like “swampland.” Oh, yes, and watch out for
snakes and other wildlife.
Solution: This boardwalk is the first of four sections of a nature trail that is being
constructed in the area, connecting Bethany Beach to the saltpond, tying
the two separate regions together for the first time. The path will link
outlook areas along the way, allowing environmentalists and nature lovers
to observe the wildlife, including osprey nesting areas, up close and
personal. The job piqued the interest of Scott MacKay, President, Ram
Jack of the TriStates, “Even though the project initially specified
a competing company’s products, I knew Ram Jack had superior products
for this type of job, so I was confident we had the better bid.”
MacKay knew that Ram Jack’s durable thermal set plastic coated piles
resist corrosion and are environmentally friendly, making them ideal for
this wetlands application. “Our powder-coated piles are ICC-ES recognized,”
MacKay says with confidence. “They don’t rust or leak zinc
into the groundwater, thereby contaminating it and endangering the fragile
ecosystem.” MacKay ultimately installed 136 vertical helical piles,
plus 68 tie-backs for additional stabilization. “You can drive your
car on this boardwalk, that’s how stable it is,” he states proudly.
Conclusion: Throughout all phases of the project, MacKay worked closely with the Prime
Consultants, Landscape Architectural Services, LLC of Dover, Delaware
and N.W. Johnson, Builders, General Contractors, for Phase I. The Town
of Bethany Beach has just set the benches with signage to follow shortly
on the first section of boardwalk, and is placing the stone for the second
set of walkways. Meanwhile, Scott MacKay and his staff are standing by
– with their hip waders and tall boots on, of course!
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