LOCATION: Verrado Way and Interstate 10, Buckeye, Arizona

CLIENT: DMB Associates

CIVIL ENGINEER: Wood/Patel Associates

YEAR(S): 1998-2010

DESCRIPTION: A new residential community on over 8,000 acres of vacant desert and previously developed land.

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

Environmental

GEC prepared a Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment of an 8,000-acre Site planned for a residential community and commercial facilities. The Site was formerly used for the testing of heavy earth moving machinery, and it included a large vehicle/equipment maintenance area as well as numerous sand and gravel borrow and material processing areas. Issues evaluated included former underground storage tank areas, septic systems, groundwater wells, seepage pits, landfill areas, and asbestos-containing materials. GEC identified additional issues and performed an extensive Phase II investigation to evaluate the issues. Phase II services included the tracing of existing drain lines, geophysical surveys, exploratory, excavations, test borings, soil sampling and testing, and groundwater sampling and testing. GEC directed the remediation of impacted soils and landfill materials by excavation and off-site disposal. Additional remedial actions are planned for the Site.

Geotechnical Engineering

GEC's services included geotechnical investigations for a new interstate highway interchange, evaluation of fill and borrow source areas for the interchange construction, a large slope mitigation area to evaluate current conditions and potential slope restoration alternatives. GEC conducted test drilling and soil sampling, percolation testing, laboratory testing, engineering analyses, and preparation of various geotechnical reports for the design of pavements, residential subdivisions, commercial buildings, a wastewater treatment plant, lift stations, groundwater well facilities, water tanks, bridges, box culverts, and other facilities/improvements.

Construction Observation and Materials Testing

GEC has provided up to five full-time technicians during the mass and finish grading, installation of infrastructure including wet and dry utility lines and streets, and other improvements. Earthwork has involved cuts and fills of over four million cubic yards. GEC also provided observation and testing services for the development of numerous residential subdivisions, streets, utility lines, a two-mile temporary water line, box culverts, bridges, water tanks, a wastewater treatment plant, a high school, and other facilities. Services to date have included observation and testing of fill placement, footings, streets, and laboratory analysis of construction materials.