A difficult job
The project site for the downtown cruise
ship berths presents a variety of geotechnical
and construction challenges that are
unique to marine infrastructure design in
southeast Alaska. These challenges stem
from the highly variable geotechnical conditions
that vary from loose marine sediment
to shallow and steep-sloping bedrock and
areas of underwater landslide debris.
The site is situated in one of the world’s
largest non-polar ice regions, and has been
historically subject to multiple advance and
retreat cycles of the surrounding glaciers.
The primary result of this process is that
the landscape is made up of deep, steeply
formed channels and hillsides, including the
sub-region where downtown Juneau is situated.
The downtown Juneau waterfront sits
at the base of the slopes of Mount Roberts
and Mount Juneau. The mountains from
sea level to peak measures over 3,500 feet.
Yet the horizontal distance from shoreline
to peak is only one mile.
The soil profile is a composite of manmade
fill, mass wasting slope deposits, alluvial/
deltaic deposits, native marine intertidal
deposits and glacio-marine deposits. The
elevation of the bedrock varies from exposed
ASSOCIATE/ENGINEERING AFFILIATE
Testing
The project team in Juneau
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