Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Boat Ramp Repairs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Engineers propose articulated concrete mats to extend Veterans Park boat ramp; council to seek permits and funding
Summary
Alliance Consulting Engineers recommended ArmorFlex articulated concrete mats to extend the Veterans Park ramp 8–16 feet to improve launches during drought; manufacturer materials cost estimated $11,000–$13,000 and total project under $20,000 including labor; council asked staff to pursue regulatory approvals and finance committee referral.
Kyle Clampett of Alliance Consulting Engineers told the Kershaw County Council the Veterans Park boat ramp is frequently unusable during drought-level low-water events and recommended a low-cost, low-profile fix using articulated concrete mats manufactured by ConTec (ArmorFlex). He said the mats can be installed in 10-foot sections by common equipment and would extend the ramp 8 feet (one row) or 16 feet (two rows), with manufacturer material estimates of about $11,000 for one row and just over $13,000 for two rows. He added labor and incidental costs could keep the full project under $20,000.
Clampett described recent river depths in the 4.4–4.8 foot range during drought and noted the bottom of the ramp sits just under 118 feet; the recommended two-row option would extend the usable launch by about 16 feet and should accommodate low-water conditions. He acknowledged the installation would create approximately 480 square feet of impact below the ordinary high-water mark and said the county must coordinate approvals with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC); he characterized the permitting pathway as a nationwide permit with no mitigation-credit purchase and described a likely review turnaround of a few weeks to a couple months.
Council members asked technical questions about settling, edge transitions, and how gaps would be sealed; Clampett said the mats include spreader bars for controlled placement, will settle one to a few inches into the riverbed, and that grout could be used to fill minor gaps to create a near-smooth transition for boat trailers. Council members noted public-safety benefits and urged staff to refer the item to the finance committee to verify funding availability. No vote was required tonight; council directed staff to pursue the regulatory approvals, prepare procurement cost estimates, and report back to the finance committee.
