C
Publish and Present
Hugo Cisneros, P.E.
Civil Engineer
Port of Los Angeles
San Pedro, California
omar Jaradat, PhD, P.E., D.P.E., M.ASCE
VP, Structures Technical Director
Moffatt & Nichol
Costa Mesa, California
Zachary Chrisco, P.E.
Principal
Sasaki
Raj Varatharaj, P.E., G.E., M.ASCE
Geotechnical Engineer
Earth Mechanics, Inc., California
Arul Arulmoli, PhD, P.E., G.E., D.GE, F.ASCE
Principal
Earth Mechanics, Inc.
Fountain Valley, California
The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade will provide a connection between the Wilmington community and Berths 183-186 at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA), creating a “window on the waterfront.” The waterfront development includes a bluff area, pedestrian promenade with tidal steps, an overlook pier, and a floating dock. Other structural components of the project include a signature pedestrian bridge structure over existing railroad tracks. The project includes realignment of Water Street and the demolition of an existing freight facility at the water’s edge. Project improvements will also entail landscaping, walking/biking paths, plazas, restrooms, irrigation, signage, lighting, as well as site furnishings like public seating, bike racks, and public drinking fountains.
As a community project, substantial coordination of the design elements to meet the project’s intent and the community’s expectations was required between the design team and all stakeholders. The design also had to be in compliance with permitting requirements, constraints identified in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and remain within budget.
This paper will discuss the challenges and actions taken during the planning and design of the project to meet stakeholder’s expectations, code compliance, and budget requirements. These challenges include mitigation of settlement due to fill placement, modifications on backland to utilizing an existing bulkhead wall, developing a new king-pile/sheetpile combi-wall, seismic design of the overlook pier, and addressing the effect of large vessels calling at adjacent Berths 187-190. Potential challenges anticipated during construction will also be discussed.