We move dirt, a lot of it.
Georgia Pacific West Capping
Port of Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington
The project site is owned by the Port of Bellingham and the project required capping a 17-acre portion of the former Georgia Pacific (GP) mill site located in downtown Bellingham, directly adjacent to Bellingham Bay. The subject area consisted of variable surface types with features including flexible asphalt pavement, concrete utilidors, concrete slabs and grade beams of variable thickness, 21,000 tons of crushed concrete and brick and 13,000 tons of earth excavation for embankment.
Additional work included the cleanup, collection and capping of a thin layer of dirt, dust and gravel classified as “veneer” which required careful removal using street sweepers, excavators and hand brooms. Numerous onsite underground utilities including pipes, structures and utilidors were decommissioned through means including plugging and capping pipes and structures up to 84 inch diameter and demolition of miscellaneous structures and obstructions.
RAM imported, placed and graded 21,000 tons of gravel borrow and 29,000 tons of permeable ballast which combined with the 34,000 tons of crushed onsite material and embankment formed the capping layers. RAM capped other areas of the site with asphalt pavement, installed containment curbing and 2,400 square feet of gravity block retaining wall. All of the work was conducted during a dry summer season on a site surrounded by dense urban and residential development which required strict management of site hygiene to prevent the discharge of potential hazardous fugitive “veneer” dust.
Granary Avenue & Laurel Street
City of Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington
This landmark project is a full-scale brownfield redevelopment of a historical former industrial area in the City of Bellingham’s downtown waterfront district. RAM was awarded the contract to construct all features of this project which include: public and franchise utilities, construction of two new arterial streets with full bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and unique site lighting and landscape components.
To facilitate the construction of the public facilities, RAM first had to demolish and/or decommission dozens of abandoned industrial structures including: pipes, utilidors and wood pilings. Decommissioning involved plugging pipes up to 60” in diameter and structures up to 10 feet in diameter. Once demolition activities were completed, RAM began excavation of the site which required establishing stockpiles, segregating and testing excavated waste and managing disposal of thousands of tons of site soils and materials based upon waste profile.
RAM also provided value engineering to solve a complicated engineering and constructability challenge that involved safely installing a large diameter stormwater discharge pipe under an existing concrete pier within the tight restraints of regulation and tidal fluctuations.
Sehome High School Earthwork Package
Sehome High School
Bellingham, Washington
This project consisted of three phases of work for RAM Construction: earthwork, utilities and exterior improvements; demolition and abatement of the existing school; site architectural concrete work. The existing school was occupied during construction and the safety of the 1,200 students onsite was of highest importance. Once the earthwork and construction of the 190,000 square foot school was complete, RAM moved forward with the demolition of the old school and completion of parking lots and sports fields.
The greatest challenge of this project was effective communication and coordination with the GC/CM and multiple subcontractor trades. When RAM was awarded the project, the design documents were only 75% complete. RAM worked efficiently with the GC/CM and the design team from pre-construction through completion, constantly changing sequence and strategy to accommodate over 75 design changes during construction. This fast track project had a compressed schedule, shortening the construction of the building from two years to one year. Work was carefully sequenced and constructed to minimize safety issues with students and staff. RAM performed large portions of work during the summer months while students were off site to minimize impacts to the school district.
Project Scope: Erosion water pollution control, roadway and channel excavation, shoring, drilled shafts, installation of concrete girder bridge, illumination, asphalt overlay and pavement markings.
SR11 – Padden Creek Fish Barrier Removal
Washington State Department of Transportation
RAM was contracted by WSDOT to remove a portion of a brick tunnel built circa 1892 that ran beneath Fairhaven Parkway (SR 11) and construct a bridge over Padden Creek. The project facilitated the City of Bellingham’s Padden Creek Daylighting project to re-route 2,300 feet of the creek, which had been flowing through the tunnel, into a natural stream channel to allow fish passage, improve habitat and reduce flooding.
Due to the sensitive nature of the surrounding environment, RAM worked meticulously with the City of Bellingham, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Ecology to protect the water quality and greenway, while coordinating multiple design changes with WSDOT.
With work taking place on busy SR11, the project was completed in two phases to allow a portion of the road to be open at all times to traffic.
Replacement of Water Distribution System P-236
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, Washington
This infrastructure project contracted for installation of approximately 23 miles of new ductile iron water distribution lines throughout Naval Station Whidbey (NAS Whidbey).
The massive project included mandatory clearance with National Security. It also included working on active flight lines during Navy operations. RAM continuously monitored safety, environmental and operation coordination with the Navy, General Contractor, City of Oak Harbor and Island County officials. As standard with our work, SWPPP was implemented during the NAS project. RAM was evaluated at the completion of the work as “… very capable with no production or quality control issues.”
“RAM’s open communication with the Government and extensive partnering for somewhat ambiguous “as-built” investigations at times, made much of the project smoother than it could have otherwise been. RAM acted as an advocate for the Government and I would welcome another opportunity to work with then…”
Former Scott Paper Mill Site Remediation
Port of Anacortes
Anacortes, Washington
RAM’s work on this highly successful cleanup, mitigation and restoration of 40 acres of contaminated industrial waterfront at the former Scott Paper Mill site, turned the land into both a usable commercial area and an enjoyable public space. This project required detailed coordination between RAM, the Port of Anacortes, Kimberly Clark Corporation, The Washington Department of Ecology, the Longshoreman, and the Port of Anacortes’s marine contractor. RAM’s work was vital in the highly sensitive environmental cleanup during several phases of the remediation.
Phase 1 (Public Bid) – Environmental Remedial Contractor
Phase 2 (RFP Process) – Management and Equipment Supplier for Project Sediment Disposal Facility – located at the Port of Anacortes’ deep-water marine terminal.
Phase 4 (Negotiated with Kimberly Clark) – Upland remedial contractor for the 20-acre north portion of the site.
