If there was an annual awards ceremony for the Helical Pile Industry, the Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Walkway in New Jersey would be nominated for, and probably win, the golden Helix statue for most challenging project. As detailed in numerous case studies, blogs, and articles on our website, access, mobilization, and environmental sensitivity are always at issue on Walkway projects. None of those jobs faced the number of obstacles and the degree of difficulty encountered on this project. Walkway Case Histories
The South Cape May Meadows, a two-hundred-acre nature preserve at the southern tip of Cape May, is a critical stopover for migratory birds on the Atlantic Flyway. To enhance the experience of the reported 90,000 annual visitors, the Nature Conservancy commissioned an ambitious and expansive walkway within the preserve. Princeton Hydro, nationally recognized and acclaimed for their meticulous care in designing ecologically significant projects, designed the project. Enhancing Accessibility and Preserving Nature at South Cape May Meadows Preserve – PRINCETON HYDRO
The project installation was undertaken by Danbro Installer, RENOVA. According to RENOVA’s Project Description, the project “included the installation of 2,675 linear feet of elevated boardwalk, 650 helical piles, and the seamless installation of a 50’ x 6’ Bedford ReadySpan™ pedestrian bridge, which connects key pathways in the preserve…” Furthermore, in compliance with the strict regulations established by the Nature Conservancy to protect the preserve’s sensitive environment, RENOVA “implemented comprehensive environmental protection measures. These measures included erosion and sediment controls, high-visibility fencing, and ground protection matting to minimize construction impacts.” The ground protection matting was utilized in the limited areas where a machine could touch terra firma, including the starting points at the beach and at the entrance to the preserve at Sunset Boulevard.
Each 10’ X 6’ section of walkway was constructed off-site, utilizing IDEAL Group’s modular walkway system, Greenwalk, and transported to the installation point on a dolly. Two IDEAL 2 7/8” helicals had already been installed in the wetlands and the pre-assembled section was lowered by cable into the 360 degree fully articulating brackets atop the helicals. At this point, the machine moves forward on plywood placed on the newly installed section, reaches out, and installs two more helicals, so the process can be repeated. Brackets on the installed section are rotated and leveled to the plumb point and secured in place. The walkway was not straight, but meandered through the wetlands, further complicating the install.
Greenwalk representatives describe their process as “Flyover Construction” since nothing but the helicals themselves are allowed to interact with the sensitive wetland environment. Machines and humans are verboten! The planks are recycled composite material, as are the precision pre-welded headers, into which the planks snap under the weight of a human foot. The Braille Railing, installed to accommodate visitors who are visually impaired, are of recycled aluminum. Neither sourced material nor construction methodology are harmful in any way to the sensitive environment. South Cape May Meadows – Danbro Distributors
In a project defined by challenges, the most difficult part was crossing over an approximately 40’ + estuary in the middle of the walkway. As RENOVA’s Project Description explained: “The pedestrian bridge vendor noted that the installation would be “one of the most challenging” they had ever seen, as the bridge spanned over a body of water and was in a remote area of the preserve.” The prohibition against humans and machines in the water required RENOVA to build out from both the Lighthouse (beach/side) and the Sunset Boulevard entrance, so they could meet in the middle of the preserve at the estuary. The 50’ x 6’ Bedford ReadySpan™ pedestrian bridge also needed to be installed in sections, crawling the machine up on sheets of plywood to install the helicals, and then positioning the headers in-place. Fortunately, the bridge was made of fiberglass and not overly heavy, but still cumbersome to transport to the site.
This boardwalk provides a lasting benefit to the Cape May community and visitors alike by creating safe, accessible pathways to observe and enjoy the preserve’s vibrant ecosystems, while minimizing human impact on the surrounding habitat. Hats off to RENOVA for their ability to overcome numerous logistical challenges and the adaptability and expertise to master the learning curve on Greenwalk. Paulo Rodriguez, RENOVA’s owner, was aware of Greenwalk and had shown interest in the past, but this was their first foray into uncharted waters (pun intended). Kudos to Ben Stroyer and Bruce Stroyer from IDEAL, who assisted on site and by phone throughout the project. The South Cape May Meadows Walkway is a great testament to both parties for an award-worthy project, overcoming mind-numbing challenges while meeting the highest standards of quality, functionality, and client satisfaction.
… and the Golden Helix goes to …
South Cape May Meadows | The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey
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