Old Slater Mill Historic Landmark District Dam Repair
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Background:
ES&M was selected as the prime consultant for repairs to a portion of the historic Slater Mill Dam in Pawtucket, RI. The dam, built in 1792 and located on the Blackstone River, is part of the Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District, and was an integral part of the American Industrial Revolution and the textile industry in Pawtucket.
ES&M was selected as the prime consultant for repairs to a portion of the historic Slater Mill Dam in Pawtucket, RI. The dam, built in 1792 and located on the Blackstone River, is part of the Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District, and was an integral part of the American Industrial Revolution and the textile industry in Pawtucket.
Project Description:
The repair work consisted of the installation of temporary cofferdams, high strength tremie concrete placed in wet conditions to plug a breach in the dam, and specialty synthetic liners and concrete mats placed on the upstream side of the dam and, was completed in six weeks and in accordance with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Army Core of Engineers permits.
Erosion controls were applied and site preparation included the use of a Portadam™ system. Dewatering of the upstream side of the dam and installation of a cofferdam on the downstream side of the dam were necessary. Voids and breaches below the dam were filled with tremie concrete. Eroded areas were filled and leveled with approved materials to prepare for an impermeable liner. An impermeable membrane was installed over the upstream face of the dam and river bottom to limit future seepage through repaired areas. A non-woven geotechnical fabric was placed over the impermeable liner, then covered with an articulated concrete block weighted cover layer. Following these steps, the Portadam™ and cofferdam were removed from the Blackstone River and the work area restored.
The repair work consisted of the installation of temporary cofferdams, high strength tremie concrete placed in wet conditions to plug a breach in the dam, and specialty synthetic liners and concrete mats placed on the upstream side of the dam and, was completed in six weeks and in accordance with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Army Core of Engineers permits.
Erosion controls were applied and site preparation included the use of a Portadam™ system. Dewatering of the upstream side of the dam and installation of a cofferdam on the downstream side of the dam were necessary. Voids and breaches below the dam were filled with tremie concrete. Eroded areas were filled and leveled with approved materials to prepare for an impermeable liner. An impermeable membrane was installed over the upstream face of the dam and river bottom to limit future seepage through repaired areas. A non-woven geotechnical fabric was placed over the impermeable liner, then covered with an articulated concrete block weighted cover layer. Following these steps, the Portadam™ and cofferdam were removed from the Blackstone River and the work area restored.
Project Challenges:
- Limited work area required cooperation among several contractors working on the project to determine the best way to stage materials and equipment.
- Inconsistent river bottom depths downstream along the dam required the use of super sacks to redirect water downstream of the dam. The super sacks also served as a platform for proper installation of concrete forms and during concrete pouring.
- Heavy rain events posed risk of super sacks being torn open. ES&M installed a metal plate as a deterrent to protect super sacks from damage during heavy rain events.
- Proper installation of the Portadam required ES&M and our subcontractors to work extended hours
Project Completion:
Completion of the needed repairs to the dam helps to preserve the historic significance of the dam and its importance to the interpretation of Old Slater Mill as a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
Completion of the needed repairs to the dam helps to preserve the historic significance of the dam and its importance to the interpretation of Old Slater Mill as a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
