Gaston Shoals

Location: Blacksburg, SC
Owner: DTA/ Duke Energy Corp.
General Contractor: Devine Tarbell & Associates
Value: $1.5 Million
Date Complete: May 2007

In order to remediate excessive scouring at the base of the spillway of the Gaston Shoals Hydroelectric facility, Brayman was contracted to install a concrete buttress along the base of the spillway section of the dam. The original plan was to form and pour a 4x4x4 deep concrete block. After the initial inspection, sections at the base of the spillway with scour pockets up to 20ft deep were discovered. It was determined, after diver inspections, that Brayman would clean each deep area and backfill with tremie concrete up to the base of the dam. In all, nearly 1360cy of tremie concrete was placed.

With the tremie concrete in place, Brayman proceeded with the original plan of installing the 4x4 concrete buttress. Tie-ins to the existing dam and bedrock were secured by drilling and installing approximately 1,300 number 7 and 11 dowel bars. The concrete buttresses were then formed and poured in 50ft segments to minimize exposure to water flows cresting the spillway.