Appendix_6_Sand_Key_Park_Geotech_report.pdf
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- Attached to
- Infrastructure Repair Work Order Contract
- Solicitation number
- 26-0208-ITB-C
- Issued by
- Pinellas County, Florida
About this file
This is a geotechnical exploration report prepared by AREHNA Engineering, Inc. for Pinellas County, Florida, detailing pavement and subsurface conditions at Sand Key Park located at 1060 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida. The project, titled "Beach Access Parks - Pavement Improvement Task 02 - Sand Key Park," was conducted to assess pavement damage incurred during debris storage and clearing operations following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The geotechnical study involved 15 pavement cores extracted with a 4-inch inside diameter core bit and shallow hand auger borings to a depth of approximately 1-foot below the existing pavement surface to identify subgrade materials. The report, dated August 8, 2025, was prepared for Ayres Associates, Inc. and signed by Jordan Fox, P.E. and Kevin M. Hill, P.E., both Senior Geotechnical Engineers. The project scope includes resurfacing to rehabilitate pavement damage, installation of wheel stops, striping, and establishment of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
The geotechnical investigation revealed that asphalt thickness ranged from 5.5 to 9.8 inches, with base material consisting of a mixed sand and shell layer ranging from 4.0 to 29.5 inches in thickness. The underlying subgrade material was identified as light gray, fine sand (A-3 classification). The pavement surface exhibited minor longitudinal and transverse cracking and mechanical distress such as scrapes and gouges, with the overall surface in good to fair condition. AREHNA recommends milling and replacing 1.5 to 2.0 inches of asphalt and applying a separation membrane over exposed cracks before placing new pavement to mitigate reflective cracking. The report notes that the base material, consisting of a sand and shell mixture without a separator such as filter fabric, functions more as a stabilized subgrade and is generally insufficient to provide required base strength for typical traffic loads. Periodic maintenance will be required for future cracking under existing conditions, with specific milling depth recommendations provided for each of the 15 core locations documented in the attached tables and core photographs.
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www.arehna.com
5012 West Lemon Street Tampa, Florida 33609 Ph 813.944.3464 │ Fax 813.944.4959
August 8, 2025
Mr. Matthew R. Ivie, P.E.
Ayres Associates, Inc.
8875 Hidden River Parkway, Suite 200 Tampa, Florida 33637
Subject: Report of Geotechnical Exploration Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement Task 02 – Sand Key Park Pinellas County, Florida AREHNA Project B-20-034.02
AREHNA Engineering, Inc. (AREHNA) is pleased to submit this report of our geotechnical exploration for the proposed project. Services were conducted in general accordance with AREHNA Proposal B.Prop-24-048d, dated June 20, 2025. The purpose of our geotechnical study was to obtain information on the general pavement and subsurface conditions at the subject site.
This report presents our understanding of the project, outlines our exploratory procedures, documents the field data obtained, and includes our recommendations for the proposed improvements.
AREHNA appreciates the opportunity to have assisted you on this project. Should you have any questions regarding this report, or if we can be of any further assistance, please contact this office.
Best Regards, AREHNA ENGINEERING, INC.
FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION NO. 28410
Jordan Fox, P.E. Kevin M. Hill, P.E.
Senior Geotechnical Engineer Senior Geotechnical Engineer Florida Registration 87472 Florida Registration 72949 On the date adjacent to the seal.
Printed copies of this document are not considered signed and sealed, and the signature must be verified on any electronic copies
Distribution: 1 – Addressee - Electronic 1 – File
Attachments: Sheet 1 – Coring Location Plan
Table 1 - Pavement Evaluation Coring and Condition Data Table 2 - General Milling Depth Recommendations Pavement Core Photographs
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement August 8, 2025 Task 02 – Sand Key Park AREHNA Project B-20-034.02 Pinellas County, Florida
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PROJECT INFORMATION
The project site is located at 1060 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida. The project consists of resurfacing to rehabilitate pavement damage incurred during debris storage and clearing operations following the passage of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Additional improvements include wheel stops, striping, and establishing compliance with ADA requirements.
The purpose of our geotechnical study was to obtain pavement and subsurface information at the project site and to provide general resurfacing recommendations.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The following services were performed to achieve the above-outlined objective:
Performed a site reconnaissance and marked coring locations.
Requested utility location services from Sunshine811.
Performed 15 Pavement Cores with shallow hand auger borings to identify the subgrade material at areas of pavement distress.
Visually classified and stratified the soil samples in the laboratory using the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Soil Classification System.
Reported the results of the field exploration and engineering analysis. The results of the subsurface exploration are presented in this report signed and sealed by a professional engineer specializing in geotechnical engineering.
FIELD EXPLORATION
Fifteen (15) pavement cores were performed to document the condition and measure the existing pavement thickness at the project site. The pavement cores were extracted with a 4-inch inside diameter core bit.
Upon completion, the pavement cores were removed and transported to our laboratory where they were further examined, measured and photographed by an engineer.
At each core location a shallow hand auger boring was advanced to a depth of approximately 1-foot below the existing pavement surface to collect samples of the base and subgrade materials for classification and laboratory testing, if needed. The hand auger borings were performed by manually advancing a 3-inch diameter, 6-inch-long sampler into the soil. Soil sampling was performed in general accordance with ASTM Test Designation D-1452, entitled “Soil Investigation and Sampling by Auger Borings”. Once completed, the boreholes were backfilled with soil cuttings and the pavement surface was restored with asphalt cold patch.
The approximate pavement core and hand auger locations are shown on the Core Location Plan presented on Sheet 1 in the Attachments.
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PAVEMENT AND SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS
AREHNA performed a visual inspection of the pavement surface and observed minor longitudinal and/or transverse cracking throughout the site. Numerous areas of mechanical distress such as scrapes and gouges in the pavement surface were present. This distress was consistent with damage caused by vehicles during debris storage and clearing as reported. The pavement surface is generally in good to fair condition.
The asphalt thickness ranged from approximately 5.5 to 9.8 inches. The base material consisted of a mixed sand and shell layer that ranged from approximately 4.0 to 29.5 inches in thickness. The underlying subgrade material consisted of light gray, fine sand (A-3).
Pavement section data at each core location is summarized in Table 1 - Pavement Evaluation Coring and Condition Data presented in the Attachments. Photographs of the pavement cores are also presented.
EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The existing pavement section generally exceeds minimum county guidelines. Notwithstanding the observed mechanical distress, the pavement surface was otherwise in good to fair condition.
At most pavement core locations, where cracking (longitudinal and/or transverse) was observed, the cracks fully penetrated the pavement. This type of distress is indicative of fatigue cracking, which is the cracking of the pavement surface as a result of repetitive loading which can be governed by the inherent fatigue resistance of the surface asphalt layer and/or magnitude of the cyclic tensile strains at the bottom layer (generally caused by low stiffness or insufficient thickness of the base layer). The base material consists of a mixture of sand and shell, which is not a true base, but functions more as a stabilized subgrade. Most likely, the base material was installed as a shell layer. But, without a separator, such as a filter fabric, between the shell and sand, when saturated the sand will migrate into the shell which weakens both the shell base and the subgrade sand. It is our opinion that the base material in its current form is generally insufficient to provide the required base strength for typical traffic loads. A portion of the core locations appear to be experiencing fatigue cracking due to the integrity of the asphalt properties as well as general wear and tear over time. Excessive vehicle loads during debris storage and clearing likely also contributed to the observed conditions.
Resurfacing may be the most economical option and generally sufficient to address the existing surficial pavement issues observed, however, it may not address some of the underlying problems causing cracking.
In areas where the pavement exhibits full depth cracks, milling and resurfacing will only temporarily resolve the issue. The new asphalt will experience reflective cracking as the repeated traffic loads stress the asphalt overlay causing it to crack over existing weaknesses in the underlying pavement. The result will be pavement that will crack more quickly and will require more frequent patching.
3 | P a g e
We recommend milling and replacing 1.5 to 2.0 inches of asphalt and applying a separation membrane or similar material over exposed cracks after milling before placing new pavement to help reduce the chance for reflective cracking. Our general recommendations of milling depths for each location are presented in Table 2 - General Milling Depth Recommendations in the Attachments. It should be understood that periodic maintenance will be required for future cracking under these conditions.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS
The subsurface information presented in this report is based on the results and interpretations of the testing and/or data collection activities performed at the site, and the information available to AREHNA at the time the report was issued. AREHNA is not responsible for the conclusions, opinions, or recommendations made by others based on the data presented in this report. This report was prepared for the exclusive use of Ayres Associates, Inc. and Pinellas County. Use of this report by persons or groups without the permission of Ayres Associates, Inc. and Pinellas County, and AREHNA Engineering, Inc. is not authorized. AREHNA reserves the right to update this report should additional information become available.
Attachments
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Note 1: No crack observed within the core.
Note 2: If cracks are exposed after milling a separation membrane or similar material should be placed over the cracks before placing new pavement to reduce the chance of reflective cracking.
CORE NO.
PC-01
PC-02
PC-26
PC-27(1)
PC-30(1)
EXISTING PAVEMENT
THICKNESS (IN)
RECOMMENDED
ASPHALT TYPE
RECOMMENDED
MINIMUM MILLING
DEPTH (IN)
PC-03
PC-06(1)
PC-21(1)
PC-22(1)
PC-25(1)
PC-08(1)
PC-11(1)
PC-13
PC-15
PC-17(1)
TABLE 2
GENERAL MILLING DEPTH RECOMMENDATIONS
BEACH ACCESS PARKS - PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENT - SAND KEY PARK
PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
AREHNA Project Number: B-20-034.02
AREHNA Project No. B-20-034.02 Date Performed: July 28, 2025 Designed By: JF
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-01
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-02
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-03
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-06
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
Pinellas County, Florida
PC-08
PC-08
PC-08
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-11
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-13
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-15
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-17
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-21
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-22
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-25
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-26
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-27
Checked By: KH Drawn By: JF
5012 West Lemon Street, Tampa, FL 33609 Phone 813.944.3464 Fax 813.944.4959
Beach Access Parks – Pavement Improvement – Sand Key Park
PC-30
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf Bou lev ard
Clearwater Pass
B ea ch
B ea ch
Entra nce
Clearwater Bridge
Sand Key Park
LEGEND
www.pinellascounty.org/park
Please Note:
Attachment A
Project Number: 90018G1-A5
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .