Located in Florida, the company is frequently summoned following hurricanes and other calamities in order to repair transportation infrastructure.
The severity varied for different areas along the 3-mile thoroughfare, as it had washed out in multiple areas between Sanibel Island and the mainland, with the only link being the Causeway.
{Related Content: Images showing the transformation of the Sanibel Causeway project}.
Ryan Hamrick, division manager at Superior, expresses, “It was undoubtedly surprising.” “While you may observe the images from the news coverage and aerial footage depicting the destruction, photographs and videos truly fail to accurately convey the magnitude of the situation. When you have the opportunity to physically be present at the site and witness the aftermath firsthand, it instills within you a newfound admiration for the immense strength of these storms. Moreover, in this particular scenario, witnessing the devastating impact of storm surge on the structures we construct on a daily basis is truly enlightening.”
In September, the Florida Department of Transportation, the de Moya Group, and representatives of Superior, its joint-venture partner, took on a united sense of determination when they surveyed the damage, even though the task seemed challenging.
Restoring land access to the communities affected by the devastation should be prioritized and done as swiftly as possible.
“They could make things go faster and smoother by pulling that string every time,” says Hamrick. “They were all on board with the way up to the governor’s office, utilizing any resource that was available.”
Towards the conclusion of this narrative, aerial footage of the repairs is accessible. Superior and de Moya managed to finish it by October 19, over a week earlier than anticipated. FDOT estimated that the reconstruction of temporary entry on the causeway would require until the end of October following an evaluation.
Attacking the damage
Equipment was brought in by barge, boat and land for the rapid response to repair the Sanibel Causeway.Superior Construction“We flooded the area with as many resources as we could,” Hamrick says. “We attacked it from all different angles, from land-based equipment, from water-based equipment, we got pieces of equipment and personnel on each of the (causeway) islands to start working on multiple fronts.”
Superior and de Moya utilized their contacts to acquire equipment and resources, typically delivered within a 24-hour timeframe.
However, there were a few challenges to conquer.
Hamrick states, “Every aspect poses a difficulty.” Nevertheless, when it comes to this specific type of task, one of the major obstacles was arranging teams and machinery to reach the actual affected regions.
How will you obtain the equipment for fuel? How will you provide them with food? If you need to house the crews for several weeks on a 24/7 operation, there is the matter of where to stay. In addition, there are no traffic signals and power lines are down, making it challenging to travel through the area with debris.
Some condos and hotel rooms, which were still suitable for others to find, remained habitable. The majority of the workers were housed in mobile accommodations established by first responders at a local airport nearby, with whom they were able to establish a connection.
Hamrick states, “There were numerous crews present.” “Equipped on the barges’ tops, we had several barges and boats.”
The challenging aspects were the tides and the shallow depths of the water.
You should not go and be very cautious and attentive about where you had to be. It was now shallow, so you had to be careful and not use water where it was not deep enough. It moved a bunch of material around and went through the surge of the storm because of it.
Working until the last minute
The Sanibel Causeway was reopened October 19. Now attention turns to permanent repairs.Superior ConstructionFor the temporary repairs, the focus was on hauling in and dredging back dirt to rebuild the breached causeway islands and then pouring asphalt to restore the road. The bridge appeared structurally sound. (Work will be underway this month to increase its stability.) The brunt of the damage was on the lower lying island sections where the storm surge had washed away the sand and dirt beneath the road.
Teams worked nonstop around the clock simultaneously at every one of the breached regions.
Hamrick states, “On a daily basis, we made significant progress in completing the task.” “There was always a sense of urgency to finish. On the morning of October 19, when traffic was allowed back on the causeway, the work intensity did not decrease.” This reopening of the causeway enabled emergency responders, disaster aid workers, and residents to access the previously isolated communities.
Hamrick comments on the crews’ state after completing the job, stating, “The level of happiness was quite high; the level of fatigue was just as high. Every individual required a brief pause and a few days off to relax. However, the feeling of achievement, the feeling of collaboration, everyone cooperating, it was satisfying to witness, satisfying to be involved in.”
In order to minimize disturbance, it is anticipated that the task will be carried out in stages. Ensuring the smooth flow of the traffic that has recently resumed on the island is a key objective. Designers are in the process of devising a proposal that will be presented to FDOT for authorization. Additionally, Superior and de Moya will persist in their collaborative effort as the contractor responsible for the permanent refurbishment of the causeway.
Hamrick says that the design will probably be submitted to FDOT by mid-November. We are currently working together with our designers to assess different solutions and ensure that we continue to be on the same page.
FDOT has expressed a desire to have the work finished within a year, although no specific timeframe has been established.
“And I am aware that we will address that with a sense of urgency in terms of scheduling, as those individuals are already facing sufficient challenges,” Hamrick states. “Therefore, the time is running out. They do not require the additional burden of extensive construction activities.”