Willow Island Hydroelectric Plant
Challenges Solved
MRCE experts led an engineering team that designed a cofferdam to facilitate construction of a hydroelectric power plant adjacent to an Army Corps’ navigation lock and dam on the Ohio River. A cellular cofferdam consisting of sixteen 63-foot diameter, 67-foot tall cells provided protection along the river, using a soil bentonite cut-off wall for seepage control on the land side of the project. MRCE designed high capacity rock anchors to stabilize the 60-foot deep rock cut for power plant construction and to protect the existing dam. MRCE’s close involvement with the Army Corps, FERC and Owner were critical in getting the design approved and constructed.