In New Jersey, it is a common practice that a test pit excavation is ordered before construction starts on a commercial and/or residential property. If there is any reason to believe that the soil is contaminated, the soil needs to be remediated and replaced with new soil.
Property openers or those who represent the property owners like environmental consultants will order a test pit excavation to be sure the construction is not built on contaminated or unsafe soil. Read on to learn about a local soil remediation project in New Jersey that was recently completed by our team at Mikula Contracting.
The Project
We were hired for a test pit excavation at a site in Essex County, New Jersey. When we conducted the test pit excavation, which was originally scheduled as a 2-day project, contaminated soil was discovered and it was found to spread even further beneath the surface.
At that point, the test pit excavation became a full soil remediation project. Our 2-day contract turned into an ongoing soil remediation project which called for the removal of soil from the site. Certified material needed to be hauled onto the site to replace the outgoing contaminated material.
The environmental cleanup will likely take months in order for it to be environmentally compliant for commercial use. Once the remediation is complete, the site work can continue with the clean material now on the property.
Equipment Used
We used a variety of equipment to get the job done right for this New Jersey test pit excavation. In addition to the equipment, we needed more laborers on the site to work on this unexpected project. Some of the equipment included:
- Excavators: The excavators moved out large amounts of soil to be transported away.
- Clean Backfill: Once the contaminated soil that was discovered in the test pit was removed, we had to fill the empty area with certified material. It took soil testing to determine how much soil needed to be removed and replaced.
- Trucking: We used trucking to transport the contaminated soil away from the property and bring in new certified material.
- Stone: The project required stone to be removed from the deep pits that were being built. New stone was also implemented throughout the project.
Once we pivoted and started on the new project, we were able to provide the proper equipment and professionals to get the job done.
How Long Did It Take?
Once we knew that the project would be longer than expected, we took the time to organize a new plan. When soil contamination is discovered at the site of a proposed commercial project, the client must address the problem. In order to have a commercial property approved for site work and construction, the owner must provide their certified material paperwork.
Once a new plan was presented to the client, we started on the project as soon as possible. After months of work, we are still not finished. The soil remediation efforts have continued as soil contamination was discovered deeper and wider through our test pit excavations on the site. We will continue to work for a few more months on this project in order to provide a clean and approved site.
How the Team Handled Surprises
When the unexpected happens, the best you can do is learn the scope of what needs to be done and organize new plans for the labor and equipment needs. We reviewed the new plan with the client and got started.
We also ran into some weather-related delays as we worked on this project. With our company, safety always comes first, so we stayed in constant communication with the client as there was no reason to waste time and take risks on a project in unsafe site conditions.
Contact Mikula Contracting
Learn more about how Mikula Contracting can help you with your New Jersey test pit excavation service. Certified contractors are used to dealing with the unexpected. You never know what you’re going to get when you start excavation.
Our team is skilled at talking with the client and keeping them updated on each step of the project. If we discover something significant in the test pit excavation, we work alongside an environmental team to provide solutions for the site.
Failing to treat contaminated soil conditions could cause poisoning from lead, arsenic, or other hazardous substances. In addition, if you grow vegetation on the soil and eat vegetables, you can ingest the harmful substance through the food. Soil discoloration, strong odors, and the absence of plant or animal life near the property may be signs of contamination. Pouring cement and paving asphalt over the contaminated soil will not make the problem go away. Soil remediation is vital to owning a safe and certified property. Contact Mikula Contracting for a consultation on your property if you suspect any soil contamination.
