Ardaman & Associates, Inc. Tallahassee Geotech Investigation Apalachicola River Calhoun and Liberty Counties, Florida Florida Department of Transportation, District 3

The geotechnical exploration and recommendations for the foundations of the proposed S.R. 20 bridge over the Apalachicola River was a landmark in the practice of geotechnical engineering in Florida. The joint efforts of the owner, the Florida Department of Transportation, District 3 and it's consulting geotechnical engineer, Ardaman & Associates, Inc. resulted in the design and testing of one of the largest drilled shaft foundations in the state.

Extensive field exploration (which included borings within the river performed from a floating platform) and a comprehensive laboratory program (including over 235 individual tests) supported the geotechnical design for the 7 to 9-foot diameter drilled shaft foundations. A load test, designed by FDOT and Ardaman, conducted on a test shaft resulted in a record axial test load of 15,000 tons.