Protection of Waterfront Properties by Pressed-in Sheet Pile Sea Walls-Paper

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The paper describes Phase 1 of the Naples Island Permanent Seawall Repair in Long Beach, California. Between January and March 2015, crews installed 1,912 linear feet of steel sheet-pile seawall along the Rivo Alto Canal, in front of deteriorating concrete walls dating back about 80 years. The existing walls were vulnerable to further deterioration and potential failure, including during a moderate earthquake.<br /><br />Residential properties, narrow canal-side work areas, sensitive marine habitat, and strict noise limits made conventional pile-driving equipment unsuitable. The design therefore used the press-in method: a compact hydraulic machine advanced along installed piles and pressed new piles into the ground without vibratory or percussive driving. This approach allowed work in confined spaces while minimizing noise, vibration, settlement, and risks to nearby homes and wildlife. Monitoring recorded no vibration at 20 feet, no noise above 70 decibels, and no structural movement. Crews installed about 14 pairs of piles per eight-hour workday.<br /><br />The new walls were placed 18 inches in front of the existing seawalls, with grout filling the gap and concrete caps connecting the structures. Environmental requirements included habitat mitigation and protective measures such as silt curtains and wildlife relocation. The project also added public-access and site improvements.<br /><br />An unexpected obstruction near the Cordova Pump Station—concrete overspill and timber from an earlier seawall—temporarily complicated installation. Crews cleared it using a breaker bar, vibratory hammer, and high-pressure water, avoiding the need for a larger drill rig.<br /><br />Despite the obstruction and demanding site conditions, the work finished two weeks ahead of schedule. The authors conclude that press-in piling was an effective, low-impact solution for installing long sheet piles beside homes and in environmentally sensitive, space-constrained locations.

Keywords

Naples Island

Permanent Seawall Repair

Long Beach California

steel sheet-pile seawall

press-in method

sheet pile installation

marine habitat protection

noise and vibration control

earthquake resilience

coastal infrastructure repair