Penn State University Airport

Eastern Caisson recently completed an Air Traffic Control Tower for University Airport, State College, PA. The job consisted of 14 caissons, 30” in diameter with depths ranging from 66’ to 105’. Eastern Caisson encountered boulder regions and bedrock layers ranging from 30’ to 60’. These were removed with core barrels and boulder rooters. When competent bedrock was encountered, a 6’ rock socket was installed.

The Job progressed well, thanks to the power of Eastern’s Hain Drill front mounted on a 218 LB, with service crane support from a 45 Ton 108 Linkbelt with extra pulling backup by a 28 Ton RT Linkbelt. Full length rebar cages were set, and steel tremie pipe was utilized to ensure proper concrete placement.

This caisson work was completed in a timely fashion, which gave Zartman Construction, the general contractor, a good jump on construction of the tower as weather started to improve into the spring.