ICPI Interlock Design Issue 4 2018

20  FEATURE STORY Permeable Pavers Enhance an Inland Port Facility in Louisiana By Sheryl S. Jackson T wo factors are expanding ports in the United States. The first was the addition of a third set of huge locks in the Panama Canal in 2016. These allow passage of ships one- and-a-half times larger than the existing locks. The second factor is the growth of e-commerce. This transformed the supply chain as customer expectations for faster delivery times moved retail logistics from centralized to regional distribution networks. In response, ports along the Gulf and Eastern United States have undergone renovations to handle the increased volume, and inland ports are expanding to handle more throughput as well. “Since the Panama Canal expansion, ports have seen a 10 to 15 percent increase in container shipping, and inland ports are playing a critical role in moving those goods,” says Patrick J. Dufresne, Executive Director/CEO of Port Manchac in Akers, The permeable interlocking concrete pavement at Port Manchac is designed to support heavy vehicles and shipping containers. Louisiana, about 40 miles northwest of New Orleans. The port is overseen by the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission. The Canadian National Railroad’s north-south main rail line adjacent to the port’s property and easy access to I-55 with nearby direct links to I-12, I-10, and I-59 make Port Manchac’s intermodal terminal a prime inland location to store and transload bulk, break bulk, neo-bulk and containerized shipments by barge, rail and truck. The 140-acre port commissioned some significant renovations to upgrade its facilities to handle increased business, says Mr. Dufresne. One of the new features is a 25,000 sf, paved ‘laydown’ area designed to accept heavy containers and vehicles. “We evaluated the use of concrete and asphalt to pave the previously unpaved area, but I had seen permeable pavers in a similar use and liked its performance,” says Mr. Dufresne. “It can handle the weight of the containers as well as the turns made by trucks without cracking like the other pavements.” An added advantage is the ease of replacing a section of pavers if there is damage versus the labor, time and cost of repairing or replacing concrete or asphalt. “We also have a very high water table and needed a material that could improve drainage,” he adds. “The design included interlocking concrete pavers early in the process, but the client had seen another installation with permeable pavers,” says Ranjit Gujja P.E., project manager at AECOM. After evaluating the viability of permeable pavers in this application, the design was changed to incorporate them. “Permeable pavers were able to handle the weight and volume of traffic and addressed drainage issues in the area, he says. “They also saved Continues on page 21