Colonel’s Island Terminal Improvements, North Side

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Owner

Georgia Ports Authority

Designer

Moffat & Nichol

Paving Contractor

Morgan Corp.

Paving Machine

Two Volvos 8820

Mixing Plant

Rapidmix 600C

General Contractor

Carroll Daniel Construction

Completion Date

September 8, 2023

Owner

Georgia Ports Authority

Designer

Moffat & Nichol

Paving Contractor

Morgan Corp.

Paving Machine

Two Volvos 8820

Mixing Plant

Rapidmix 600C

General Contractor

Carroll Daniel Construction

Completion Date

September 8, 2023

Project Details:

According to a January 2024 press release by the Georgia Ports Authority, “At its current growth rate, the Port of Brunswick is on track to become the nation’s busiest gateway for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo,” stated Griff Lynch, President and CEO of Georgia Ports. Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Pavements play a critical role in supporting uninterrupted operations, ensuring goods roll-on and roll-off efficiently at this bustling facility, including the Colonel’s Island Terminal (CIT).

In 2023, Morgan Corp. completed the North Side of two planned RCC paving phases at CIT and began work on the South Side phase. The North Phase covered 85,000 square yards of 12-inch-thick RCC pavement, marking the third RCC paving project at CIT (with prior projects in 2012 and 2018). These projects aim to provide durable pavements that can withstand the heavy and abrasive traffic of tracked and wheeled equipment from brands like Caterpillar and Volvo. The RCC pavements also support the movement of heavy machinery, which is transported around the facility on forklifts and roll trailers equipped with solid rubber tires. Each pavement section includes a 12-inch-thick layer of RCC on a 6-inch-thick cement-treated base over a prepared sandy subgrade.

Replacing failed asphalt pavements, RCC was chosen for its durability under highly abrasive and heavy loads, along with its construction speed, abrasion resistance, longevity, low maintenance, and cost savings. Leveraging previous RCC successes at Georgia Ports Authority facilities, the owner opted for RCC over asphalt and conventional concrete.

Due to the variety and intensity of loads, Morgan Corp. provided value-engineered pavement designs, collaborating closely with the Owner, Engineer of Record, and Tenant to optimize pavement sections for anticipated conditions. RCC mix design presented a challenge, as local aggregate and cementitious material supplies were scarce, and limited options were available at nearby terminals. Morgan Corp. optimized the RCC mix using available materials and incorporated admixtures to improve compactability. Additionally, finishing aids were used for smoother troweling with ride-on trowel machines.