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Civil & Marine, Energy & Renewables

Linville Dam Embankment Seismic Stability Improvement (ESSI)

Burke County, North Carolina

Seismic reinforcement of critical hydroelectric power infrastructure

Market

Civil & Marine

Energy & Renewables

Key Services

Construction

Self-Perform

Delivery Method
General Contracting (GC)
Capacity
31.5 MW
Work Hours
135,000

The challenge

Linville Dam – a key component of the 31.5-megawatt Bridgewater Hydroelectric Station – required significant stability improvements and reinforcement to comply with revised Federal Energy Regulatory Commission guidelines and ensure better protection of the Lake James watershed during seismic events. Constructing a massive earthen stability berm downstream of the 160-foot-tall embankment dam, along with extensive excavation, placement of compacted fill, and installation of a structural concrete cap, presented complex engineering and construction challenges.

Key Facts

1,325 feet of compacted berm


410,000 cubic yards of earthen fill


135,000+ work hours


Duke Energy Safety Supplier of the Year Award

Challenge met

Alberici took on the challenging project with meticulous planning and precise execution. The team performed burrow excavation and placed more than 410,000 cubic yards of compacted fill for the stability berm. We excavated 80,000 cubic yards from the dam face and installed a 4,000-cubic-yard structural-concrete cap to fortify the penstock. Alberici performed erosion control and drainage features to manage rainwater and dam seepage effectively. To maintain safety and quality, the team closely collaborated with key trade partners, completing the project without any recordable injuries. Duke Energy recognized Alberici’s outstanding safety performance by awarding us the “Safety Supplier of the Year.”

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