Three Michels crew members measure and adjust a foundations shaft

Zoo Interchange Phase 3

Michels Construction, Inc. built 1,013 drilled shafts, including soldier piles, tangent piles, and secant piles ranging 36-60 inches in diameter, and 20-70 feet in depth for complex earth retention systems. In combination, Michels Construction installed 677 drilled tieback anchors, 50,000 square feet of wooden lagging, and 10,000 yards of poured concrete.

The project’s schedule required three drill rigs, two tieback machines, and up to 9 crews to work two shifts. Small drill rigs were used to accommodate limited access to the work location adjacent to an interstate highway. All work took place alongside live traffic on northbound and southbound I-41 and a Union Pacific Railroad.

The multi-phased project replaces all left-hand system ramps with right-hand ramps, extends on- and off-ramp merge distances and makes several other safety improvements. Freeway expansion is included at several locations.

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