Flood Prone Foundations – Taking Pile Caps to New Heights-Video

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A 140-foot transmission tower in Missouri’s Harry S. Truman Reservoir floodplain was found leaning, with damaged and missing members, after suspected flood-debris impact. Because a replacement lattice tower would take months to design and fabricate—and the line needed to remain operational—the utility first stabilized the existing structure while planning a permanent replacement.<br /><br />The new structure required foundations with a 16-foot reveal to rise above floodwaters. Concerns about marshy access, uncertain ground conditions, scour, concrete curing time, and construction speed led the client to select micropile foundations with steel pile caps. The design accounted for structure loads, flood pressure, debris impact, buoyancy, and up to seven feet of scour. Four battered micropiles supported each cap.<br /><br />After fabrication and inspection, installation began in January 2022. Crews completed micropile installation, proof testing, and pile-cap placement in just over two weeks, allowing the owner to proceed with erecting the replacement structure.

Keywords

transmission tower replacement

micropile foundations

floodplain engineering

lattice tower

scour resistance

utility infrastructure repair