Burnside Marine Terminal

This project consists of the design and construction of proposed marine and upland facilities along the east bank of the Mississippi River. The facility was once an active bulk terminal but is being refurbished to become a state-of-the-art facility. The upgrades consist of a larger bulk storage area and significant expansion into adjacent sugar cane fields.

The facility consists of numerous components including a rail dump, tripping conveyor, and a stacker/reclaimer. The ultimate plan is for 2 berths. However, at the present time, only refurbishment of the northern berth is planned. The plan also includes a new rail line, roadways, conveyors, transport facilities, and a new bauxite unloading tower.

S&ME, Inc. performed an exploration program consisting of SPT borings on both land and barges as well as land-based CPT soundings. The program tested existing cofferdam structures and USACOE levees. In order to evaluate soil strength and settlement potential, the team performed laboratory tests.

Given the tight time constraints, the team conducted detailed settlement and surcharge analyses. The team performed vertical and lateral loading tests on the conveyors and transfer towers. In addition, the team performed numerous slope stability analyses to address the individual components (coal stack, levee, batture area) as well as the overall stability of the area. This design was completed in accordance with USACOE guidelines.