Portland Pipe Line Corporation Pier 2 Deck Replacement

This underground pipeline, constructed alongside the Canadian National Railway’s Portland-Montreal rail line, ensured the safe transportation of crude oil from the secure Port of Portland to the refineries in central Canada. Spanning approximately 236 miles (380 km), the pipeline runs underground, about three feet beneath the surface, traversing through the countryside in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Quebec. To receive crude oil at the Port of Portland, a marine terminal was built on the south side of the Fore River in the city of South Portland. This terminal, designed to accommodate large oil tankers, features two piers that extend into the Atlantic Ocean. However, over time, the piers have experienced deterioration caused by the salt-rich ocean environment and freeze-thaw damage, necessitating repair efforts. 

As part of an on-call services contract for various Portland Pipe Line Corporation (PPLC) projects, GPI (presumably an engineering or construction firm) was tasked with creating a detailed design for the replacement of the deck on Portland Pipeline Pier 2. This replacement deck spans between the existing guardhouse and the oil pipeline. GPI collaborated with PPLC and their construction contractor throughout the process, providing detailed design and construction inspection services for the Pier 2 Deck replacement. In addition to the deck replacement, GPI undertook development of a concrete specification for concrete and grout repair work on the pier. This involved reviewing an existing specification provided by others and enhancing it as needed. Furthermore, GPI designed repairs for H-piles on up to five piles on Pier 2 as part of a pilot project. The design encompassed a detailed plan for wrapping the piles with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and addressed the connection of the piles into the pile bent, ensuring the structural integrity of the pier.