Whitehall_Park_-_Factory_Creek_Fishing_Pier_-_Inspection_and_Repair_2023.pdf

Waterfront Structural Evaluation Report and Repair Plan

Factory Creek Fishing Pier

For

Beaufort County

By

McSweeney Engineers, LLC www.mcsweeneyengineers.com 843-974-5621 file://///Ibm-zpro/e/Archive%20Backup/PROJECTS/2023/Beaufort%20County%20Factory%20Creek%20Fishing%20Pier/www.mcsweeneyengineers.com

Waterfront Structural Evaluation Report and Repair Plan

Inspection Date: October 20, 2023

Inspection Type and Level: Routine Inspection – Level I and Level II

Inspection Personnel: William Barna, P.E., Hunter Hutton, EIT, William Oriani, EIT

Structure Type: The structure consists of a fixed timber pier and floating dock arrangement. The approach walkway measures approximately 6 ft wide by 189 ft long and extends to a 16 ft by 24 ft fixed and covered pier head. The floating dock measures approximately 10 ft wide by 100 ft long and is accessed via a 4 ft wide by 33 ft long aluminum gangway connected to the fixed pier head.

The pier superstructure consists of 2x10 stringers, spaced at 24 in.

centers, supporting 2x6 decking and a handrail assembly. The handrail consists of 4x4 posts supporting a 2x6 top rail and a 2x4 side rail. The handrail posts are attached to cantilever deck boards. The superstructure is supported by 12 timber pile bents. Each bent consists of (2) 12 in. butt timber piles and a 2x10 split pile cap. The pier head is framed similarly and is covered with a metal roof. Please refer to Photographs 1 through 7 for typical views of the structure. A plan indicating recommended repairs is presented at the end of this report.

Location: Whitehall Park, Beaufort, SC

Waterway: Factory Creek

Summary of Inspection Findings:

1. The embankment at the structure’s abutment exhibited signs of heavy erosion and undermining. The undermining measured approximately 1 ft vertical with 6 ft of penetration.

(See Photo 8)

2. The walkway swayed under load.

3. Hurricane ties between the stringer and cap were not present.

4. The handrail was loose, heavily weathered, bowed, and exhibited isolated areas of heavy deterioration. The handrail was also noted to be non-code compliant throughout. (See Photo 9)

5. The walkway decking was heavily weathered with loose connections and protruding hardware.

(See Photo 10)

6. The pile cap at Bent 11 was split. (See Photo 11)

7. The hardware below the deck of the pier head exhibited signs of moderate to heavy corrosion.

(See Photo 12)

8. The floating dock deck was heavily deteriorated, cupped, and bowed throughout. (See Photo 13)

9. The floating dock mooring piles were characterized by checks up to ¼ in. wide and shakes up to

½ in. deep above the waterline. (See Photo 14)

10. The floating dock pile guides were heavily corroded with up to 100% loss of section. (See Photo

15)

11. Approximately 50% of the hardware connecting the poly tub floatation cells to the dock frame was heavily corroded with 100% loss of washer and nut. (See Photo 16)

Evaluation and Condition Ratings:

Deck The pier head deck was in fair to satisfactory condition. However, the walkway deck and floating dock deck were in fair to poor condition due to extensive weathering and heavy deterioration.

Superstructure The superstructure was generally in good condition. No major defects were noted.

Substructure Units The substructure units were typically in satisfactory to good condition. The piles exhibited light to moderate weathering due to typical in-service marine wear, and only one pile cap was found to be split.

Appurtenances The handrail was in fair to poor condition and exhibited heavy to severe deterioration. The handrail also does not meet code requirements.

Embankment The erosion noted at the abutment appears to be tidally induced and is significantly undermining the embankment. The embankment needs to be stabilized and protected. If the erosion goes unchecked, access to the pier could be lost or stability issues could arise.

Recommendations:

Refer to the attached repair plan for further details regarding the following recommendations:

1. Stabilize the eroded/undermined embankment at the abutment by installing riprap and filter fabric.

2. Install transverse cross bracing at each bent of the walkway to control sway.

3. Install hurricane ties on each stringer at each bent of the walkway and pier head.

4. Install midspan blocking at the pier head and between each bent of the walkway.

5. Replace the handrail throughout.

6. Replace all decking.

7. Sister additional stringer to each existing interior stringer.

8. Replace the pile caps throughout. Install with new hardware.

9. Replace all pile guides on the floating dock.

10. Replace all hardware connecting the poly tub floats to the floating dock frame.

Respectfully Submitted, William D. Barna, P.E.

McSweeney Engineers, LLC

Photograph 1: Overall View of Structure – Looking Landward

Photograph 2: Typical Handrail Configuration

Photograph 3: Typical Bent

Photograph 4: Typical Stringer Configuration

Photograph 5: Typical Hip Roof Framing

Photograph 6: Typical Roof Column Connection

Photograph 7: Typical Aluminum Gangway

Photograph 8: Embankment Erosion/Undercutting at Abutment

Photograph 9: Heavy Weathering and Deterioration of Handrail

Photograph 10: Heavy Weathering and Deterioration of Walkway Decking

Photograph 11: Split Pile Located at Bent 11

Photograph 12: Moderate to Heavy Hardware Corrosion Below Deck of Pier Head

Photograph 13: Heavy Weathering and Deterioration of Floating Dock Decking

Photograph 14: Typical Mooring Pile Condition at Floating Dock

Photograph 15: Typical Corrosion of Pile Guide with Up to 100% Section Loss

Photograph 16: Typical Heavy Corrosion of Floating Dock Hardware with Loss of Nut and

Washer