On a project decades in the making, crews will soon begin demolishing a defunct nuclear-reactor caisson in Eureka, Calif., at a site located only a few feet from the Pacific Ocean. However, before workers can begin the arduous task of breaking up the heavily reinforced concrete caisson, the project team must use custom-built drilling machinery from Germany to install unusually deep cutter soil mix (CSM) walls that prevent water intrusion so that the demolition can be done safely.
“In simplistic terms, we are building a ‘soda can’ out of concrete in the ground,” says John Gilbert, project manager with contractor Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CB&I) on the $206-million removal and civil works contract. When complete, crews will dewater and excavate the inside of the “can” and remove the concrete caisson structure.