GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY WORK PLANNED FOR SECTION
OF I-65 IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE
Crews to Conduct Drilling Tests; Motorists Alerted for Temporary Roadway Changes
October 2005 – Project crew members will conduct geotechnical survey work along a stretch of I-65 between East Gray Street and Liberty Street as part of the plan to rebuild the Kennedy Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) for the Ohio River Bridges Project. Crews will be drilling in the designated area starting October 10 and are scheduled to conduct work in the area for approximately five weeks.
Project managers are taking measures to limit traffic delays, with some work taking place in median areas at ramp exits, out of the way of motorists. In addition, the timing of the work will usually coincide with decreased traffic volumes to minimize inconveniences to road travelers. Some work may be conducted during peak traffic hours due to the time-sensitive nature of the surveying process. Project managers predict there will be shoulder closings to enable the crews to complete the work. This is the initial phase of geotechnical and archeological investigation for the Downtown Bridge section. Additional geotechnical work will be conducted in the coming months north of Liberty Street on I-65 and I-71 in the project vicinity.
The drilling process will enable project engineers to obtain soil samples for testing to determine general engineering characteristics such as soil classifications and moisture contents. The testing will also be utilized for the design of bridge and retaining wall foundations within the proposed improvements.
There will be 25-35 borings, or holes, approximately six to eight inches in width. A few of the borings will drill to the rock line, at depths up to 110 feet. Other borings will sample the upper soil layers, approximately within 25 feet of the surface or more. Once data is collected, the holes will be refilled with some of the original soil and ground cuttings, and new ground and sand.
The firm Fuller, Mossbarger, Scott and May Engineers, Inc of Lexington will be conducting the survey work with a number of large yellow and white drill rigs – which can be identified on the roadside with vertically protracted drill mechanisms over the area of work. Motorists will be alerted of the work by standard orange traffic cones, signage
and possibly crew personnel managing traffic, if necessary. Drivers are advised to be prepared for changes in traffic patterns and to watch for road crews and machinery.
An archeological survey team will work in tandem with geotechnical crews to collect archeological data to assess the possible existence of deeply buried archeological sites within the project area. Archeology teams will work in the same area gathering cultural materials which will then be bagged and submitted for cleaning, testing, analysis, cataloguing, and eventually photographing. On some occasions, the archeology teams will operate independently of the drill crews. It is predicted that a small sample (200-300) of historic artifacts will be collected during the survey period. The results will be documented and provided in a detailed written report to be filed and reviewed as part of the ongoing study of the area.
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