General Contractor Conti Federal Services Inc.

Marine Construction Subcontractor Luhr Bros Inc.
 

In 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District launched a $52-million design-build project to repair nine work areas at six dilapidated jetties and dikes along the 750-mile Texas coastline.

General contractor Conti Federal Services, working in an active marine environment, renovated jetties/dikes at Galveston Harbor, Freeport Harbor, Matagorda Ship Channel, Brazos Island Harbor, Sabine-Neches Waterway and Texas City. Work included using Manitowoc cranes to lift and place 12- to 18-ton stones and excavators to place preliminary stone layers, with both types of equipment stationed on barges. The team also used multiple tugboats to move and position the barges as well as sonar equipment for correct stone placement at each of the 4-mile-long, 20-ft-deep jetties/dikes.

Despite the project’s complexity, Conti completed 22,292 man-hours with no lost time. The firm’s safety and health program included training, a behavior-based program, a site-specific safety and health plan and activity hazard analyses. The plan addressed the specific risks of the project, including the unique issues of working on water, and required workers to wear personal floatation devices at all times. Despite challenging site logistics and weather complications, Conti finished the project 18 months early and within budget.