'Village' approach key to Fort Norfolk project completion

Posted October 29, 2009
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

10/29/2009 - FORT NORFOLK, Va — The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to install a safety handrail and perform repairs to the western waterfront sidewalk of historic Fort Norfolk was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

Installed in 1983, several portions of the exterior edge of the concrete sidewalk had eroded from a combination of normal wave energy action and saltwater exposure, said Kristin Mazur, project manager. While the sidewalk was still traversable, a handrail was installed for safety, according to Mazur. There is an approximate seven-foot vertical drop from the edge of the western sidewalk to rocks and water below.

"Our team wanted to ensure that the style of handrail complimented the historic aesthetics of Fort Norfolk," said Mazur. "By working with and including valuable input from the Commonwealth's Department of Historic Preservation, the state's archeological approval process was approved."

During construction, Norfolk District contractor Hammer/Delaware of Virginia Beach, Va., discovered a leak in a sewer manhole. "The leak turned out to be water; however, it required immediate repair so the contractor could install the concrete," said Mazur.

"We immediately contacted our logistics staff. Because this repair was outside the project's scope of work, Allan J. Guerra, chief of logistics, used the district's on-call contractor to repair the manhole. In less than 24 hours, Hammer/Delaware resumed work," she added.

Mazur also praised the work of Andy Reid, contracting officer representative, and Josh Williams, construction inspector, for "maintaining excellent communication between the project team to ensure success."

"The success of this project was due to a total team effort led by Mazur," said Lt. Col. Michel R. Darrow, deputy district commander. "She formed a great project delivery team, which was comprised of members from the operations, engineering, contracting and planning branches within the district."