Fast-Track Design
Completed a typical three-to-four-month design process within six weeks to adhere to the client’s timeline
Limited Impact
Utilized a drilled soil anchor tie back system to work from a barge on the waterside, minimizing the impact on the surrounding upland port property
Mindful Construction
Accounted for neighboring berths and adjusted construction to not interfere with the port’s operations
Located in Riviera Beach, FL, the 165-acre Port of Palm Beach serves more than 30 on-site port users and tenants, including several cruise lines and cargo shipping companies. Priding itself on efficiency and exceptional tenant experiences, the port welcomes 400,000 cruise passengers and processes more than $14 billion in exports and 2.5 million tons of cargo annually.
The Port of Palm Beach needed to replace a 45-year-old, 35-foot dredge depth bulkhead quickly before a new tenant moved into the 450-foot-long space. They needed a team that could deliver quality work on a strict timeline—and they knew Kimley-Horn could fit their needs.
Utilizing Low-Impact Solutions
To minimize construction interference with the surrounding tenants’ daily operations, Kimley-Horn was tasked with identifying low-impact design solutions for the bulkhead replacement. After evaluating typical construction methods and comparing them with the needs of the port, our team found a feasible solution—utilizing a drilled soil anchor tie back system. This system is still effective for structural stability but requires less upland excavation than other methods. Using this drilled soil anchor tie back system, contractors were able to replace the bulkhead from a barge on the waterside—a cost-effective solution that prevented construction from disturbing the pavement, adjacent parking lot, and port operations.
Construction Challenges Amid Busy Port Operations
The bulkhead site is within 100 feet of an existing building, and its neighboring berth belongs to a cruise operation. The frequent activity of the crew, food trucks, and passengers, as well as the proximity of the building, caused a lack of space for the contractor to work on construction properly.
Clear communication with port and cruise operations was imperative to the success of this replacement, especially when construction started on the shared wall. We took calculated steps to ensure the cruise ship could still be tied to the shared space while docking—such as leaving the old mooring bollard in place while constructing a new one beside it. Once we completed the new mooring bollard, we removed the dated one, and the cruise operation continued without delay.
Fast-Tracking the Design Process
Design for a bulkhead project of this scale typically takes three to four months to complete—however, the client needed an expedited timeline for bulkhead replacement to accommodate a tenant’s move-in date. Our team wasted no time creating fast-track solutions to move the project along more rapidly. Some of these solutions included preordering long lead items (steel sheet pile, fenders, and bollards), identifying and hiring a contractor, and rallying together to create a design that worked best for the port.
Due to our team’s preparation and ability to think critically and creatively, we completed the design within six weeks and the construction was completed within one year. This efficient turnaround helped the Port of Palm Beach meet its new tenant’s move-in deadline, keeping in line with the port’s dedication to providing the best tenant experience.
The replacement of this bulkhead is a significant addition to the port and will solve long-term berthing needs. We remain the Port of Palm Beach’s go-to engineers, providing on-call services to ensure the port remains one of the region’s most efficient and profitable gateways.