Keller completed the construction of the Electric Eel roller coaster foundations a week ahead of schedule and without causing harm to adjacent sensitive exhibits.
The project
SeaWorld San Diego’s 2018 construction of a new coaster, the Electric Eel, called for a quick solution that would help support the proposed approximately 11,000-square-foot mat foundation of the structure on a 1.2-acre site. Soil conditions consisted of mechanically and hydraulically placed dredge material in the upper 20 feet and old bay deposits of silts and clays below.
The challenge
Construction was completed during operating park hours. The application required Keller to mitigate the liquefaction potential of the subsurface soil and meet the stringent seismic and static settlement criteria. The largest concern was in the mornings due to the proximity of the noisy construction project with existing live animal exhibits and their sleeping inhabitants.
The solution
Keller designed and built a ground improvement solution to stabilize the soft ground, mitigate liquefaction, and reduce permeability, installing over 200 six-foot diameter columns to 40-foot depths. To lessen the disruption to exhibits and guests, Keller used strategic location of batching operations and extensive use of spotters during operations.
