Corrado American

Civil construction and industrial maintenance support serving the Mid-Atlantic region

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York Belvedere Quarry

Project:York Belvedere Quarry
Client:York Building Products
Design Professional:McCrone, Inc.
Location:Port Deposit, MD
Job Size:$1 – 3 Million
Duration:12 months
Date of Completion:April 2023

Project Overview

Corrado American provided earthwork services for the expansion of the Belvedere Mine at York Building Products in Northeast, Maryland. Our services included clearing and mass grading for a 1-mile long conveyor system connecting the aggregate mine to the newly added aggregate crushing and screening plant. Additionally, CA provided mass grading and drainage improvements for the aggregate crushing and screening plant, new entranceway, and new asphalt plant.

Over 100,000 tons of stone were placed, over 185,000 CY of earthwork were moved and 2,600 tons of asphalt were placed.

Key Challenges

Some key challenges were designing and constructing a roadway across an existing wash pond and improving onsite drainage as grading occurred in an active mine. Corrado American implemented a combination of geotextiles and low ground pressure techniques to construct the road.

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Westtown Elementary

Project:Westtown Elementary
Client:BSS Contractors
Design Professional:DL Howell & Associates
Location:West Chester, PA
Job Size:Under 1 Million
Duration:Under 1 Year
Date of Completion:August 2022

Project Overview

Earthwork, utilities, and parking lot for a new school addition, plus foundations and slab for the new addition.

  • Earthwork: 2,000 CY
  • Utilities: 300 LF
  • Paving: 350 Tons
  • Concrete: 7300 SF
  • Curb: 450 LF
  • Sidewalk: 140 LF

Key Challenges

Space was a major challenge on this project due to the small footprint, but we coordinated with BSS and the other trades to make everything work. In addition, the proposed school addition footprint was located in a previously fill area which was not considered suitable for foundation support. Corrado American worked closely with the geotechnical engineer to remediate the ground conditions for support of the structure.

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Newark Reservoir

Project:Newark Reservoir Solar
Client:Preferred Electric
Design Professional:Solar FlexRack
Location:Newark, DE
Job Size:Under 1 Million
Duration:Three Weeks
Date of Completion:March 2022

Project Overview

CA performed the layout and installation of 124 anchor posts for solar arrays at the Newark Reservoir. We also excavated and backfilled for the electrical conduit run from the existing transformer to the new solar equipment.

Key Challenges

The site was located in a floodplain that was especially difficult to work in after rain events, and the soil was soft and spongey. To address both challenges, Corrado American used a rolling matting system. This system provided safe and efficient access to install the posts and panels in the proper sequence.

The orientation of the solar panels and spacing of the rows within a tight site also required a high level of precision for our layout and driving of posts.

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Port of Wilmington

Project:Port of Wilmington
Client:Gulftainer USA
Design Professional:Jacobs
Location:Wilmington, DE
Job Size:$20+ Million

Project Overview

Corrado American provided general contracting and construction services for the first phase of the yard densification project at the Port of Wilmington located in Wilmington, Delaware. The project consisted of constructing fourteen multi-level reefer racks, expansion of the dry container storage area and infrastructure up-grades to support new gantry cranes and reefer rack system. The project also included busbar assembly and installation – the first of its kind installed in the United States.

Corrado American worked closely with the design team, busbar manufacturer, and owner to provide value engineering and design modifications to bring the project in under budget.

  • Over 3 miles of electrical and communication duct bank
  • Over 4,000 linear feet of concrete runway and busbar foundation
  • Over 5 acres of milling and paving rehabilitation
  • 3 cast in place concrete elevated electrical substations and switchgear platforms
  • 32 helical pile foundations

Key Challenges

High water table/tides. The project site is located on recent marine deposits, resulting in soft ground conditions and a high water table that fluctuates with the tides. State of the art excavation support, dewatering methods and careful planning were used during foundation and utility installation.

Operational port. Corrado American phased the construction so as not to disrupt everyday operations.

Potential environmental hazards in the ground. Corrado American provided environmental oversight and followed the CMMP guidelines closely during excavation and dewatering operations.

Global pandemic. Starting and finishing work during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Field conflicts. Corrado American worked closely with the design team to provide design alternatives and solutions to address field conflicts discovered during the project.

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2000 Pennsylvania Avenue

Project:2000 PA Avenue
Client:GGA Construction
Design Professional:CDA Engineering
Location:Wilmington, DE
Classification:Mixed Use
Job Size:$3 – $5 Million

Project Overview

This project consisted of constructing a 6-story mixed use building encompassing +/- 2.5 acres in the City of Wilmington. The gross square footage of the building was 240,658 square feet and had several below grade levels of parking. Temporary excavation support consisting of soldier beams and lagging. Excavations of 25 to 30 feet below existing grades were made to achieve the design’s basement floor elevations. Approximately 60,000 cubic yards of soil were removed and exported from the site.

In addition to the basement excavation, Corrado American installed the water and sewer utilities to the building and the onsite storm drain improvements. Our scope also included DelDOT improvements along Pennsylvania Avenue – installing an entrance to the parking garage, additional drainage improvements, and patch paving of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Key Challenges

  • The site was bordered by an active train line and bridge, commercial and retail space, and two highly-traveled roadways. Access to and from the site was extremely limited.
  • The excavation support design had to ensure the adjacent properties were also supported and any ground movement, limited.
  • The site had once been occupied by a gas and fueling station. Corrado American worked closely with the design team and environmental consultants during basement excavation for separation and disposal of contaminated soils and groundwater.
  • Due to limited information regarding the existing conditions, offsite utility work had to be redesigned. Corrado worked closely with DelDOT, the City of Wilmington, and the design engineer to re-route and re-design the offsite utility plans.
  • Scheduling and coordinating road improvements along Pennsylvania Avenue proved to be a challenge. However, Corrado kept the inconvenience to drivers at a minimum.