Major Geotechncial Drilling Projects

I-94 EW Preliminary Engineering, Milwaukee County, WI

GESTRA was retained to conduct geotechnical exploration and testing for the project design.  Drilling services include performing standard penetration (SPT) borings and geoprobe borings under the direction of project engineers.  The estimated scope of geotechnical investigation includes 280 bridge structure borings, 110 retaining wall borings and 110 pavement borings, pavement cores and rock coring at depth. Coordinate traffic control with the D.O.T and sub-contractors with many borings being performed at night.  Also coordinating access to drilling sites including tree trimming, fence removal and repair and railroad access and insurance. Associated laboratory geotechnical testing.

Zoo Interchange Geotechnical Subsurface Exploration, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

GESTRA Engineering, Inc. is providing drilling and laboratory testing services for the Zoo Interchange reconstruction project in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.  The project involves reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange and arterial roadways. 
Geotechnical drilling services include subsurface exploration for proposed replacement bridges, new bridges, railroad tunnels,
retaining walls, box culverts, pavement, traffic signs, storm water ponds and related structures.   The proposed scope of
geotechnical drilling work includes an estimated 1,050 geotechnical soil borings encompassing approximately 53,200 lineal feet
of drilling.

High Speed Rail, Watertown to Madison, WI 

The existing Canadian Pacific and Wisconsin Southern railroad between Milwaukee and Madison was being considered for improvement to accommodate the proposed (currently on hold) high speed rail between these two cities. GESTRA's scope of work included subsurface exploration and laboratory testing of soil for several rail bridges, culverts, retaining walls and rail/embankment widening for the High Speed Rail (HSR) project. Field investigation scope included over three hundred explorations including soil borings and cone penetration locations. Laboratory services included tri-axial, consolidation, permeability, soil index properties and chemical analysis for soil corrsovity. 

I-94 North South Corridor Widening, Milwaukee – Kenosha, Wisconsin

The I-94 north-south corridor, a 32 mile section of interstate in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee Counties, is being reconstructed. The project includes adding one lane in each direction, reconstructing the Mitchell Interchange and reconstructing most of the structures between the Mitchell Interchange and the state border with Illinois. GESTRA performed more than 1000 borings for a total of over 40,000 lineal feet of drilling and monitoring well installation. In situ-testing included pressuremeter testing. 

I-43 North South Freeway Preliminary Engineering, Milwaukee County, WI

GESTRA was retained to conduct geotechnical exploration and testing for the project study.  Drilling services included performing standard penetration (SPT) borings and rock coring under the direction of project engineers.  The scope of the geotechnical investigation included 34 bridge structure borings, 170 retaining wall borings, 8 storm water pond borings and 6 borings for box culvert design.

GESTRA coordinated traffic control with the D.O.T., sub-contractors and paving crews working in project area at that time. Night drilling was performed for many of structure borings and railroad access including Hyrail drilling was performed. Coordinated boring access including tree trimming, fence removal and repair. Along with the associated laboratory geotechnical testing.

Hwy 45 Reconstruction, Washington County, WI

The project consisted of milling, overlay and/or diamond grinding existing concrete pavement and constructing an asphalt concrete structural overlay on the existing concrete pavement.  The extent of this project is USH 45 north and south bound from I-41 (to the south) to one mile north of County Highway D, approximately 14 mile in length.  

GESTRA performed one hundred thirty (130) standard penetration (SPT) borings and dynamic cone penetration tests (DCP) to record the existing pavement section as well as underlying soil conditions.  GESTRA completed laboratory soil tests to assign classification and engineering properties to the soils encountered and prepared a geotechnical engineering report presenting the field exploration and lab testing results, providing pavement overlay design parameters and recommendations for subgrade improvements.

Good Hope and Brown Deer Road Bridges over I-43, Milwaukee County, WI

Proposed improvements at Good Hope Road and Brown Deer Road bridges over I-43 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin include of reconstructing the existing bridges with longer spans to accommodate additional lanes on I-43.  Exit – entry ramps from and to I-43 will also be realigned.   Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls will wrap around the new bridge abutments.  GESTRA Engineering performed the field and laboratory testing of soil and prepared the geotechnical engineering report following the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) method.