Bridge Pier Removal
As a part of the Highway 18 Widening Project for the Arkansas State Highway & Transportation in Manila, AR, Mainstream Commercial Divers, Inc. was hired by W.G. Yates & Sons Construction to provide underwater support for the removal of six highway bridge and railroad bridge piers.
Dive crews worked in two twelve hour shifts around the clock drilling up to 6" diameter holes through the bridge piers, routing the diamond wire to allow piers to be cut in smaller sections, rigging the cut sections for removal by the crane barge, and burning H-piles. A total of two bridge piers and four railroad bridge piers were removed during the work.