This year, the Conococheague Creek Aqueduct Restoration received not one, but two industry awards — one of which was recently presented at the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention on October 26 for First Place - Repair and Restoration . So, it is only fitting that we add this project and its awards as things we are celebrating this year as part of our “We are thankful… ” series.
The aqueduct, a McMullan project with Peck, Peck & Associates, underwent a 30-month restoration with the National Park Service-National Capital Region. The Conococheague Aqueduct is not just the only aqueduct along the C&O Canal to carry water, but also the only place anywhere in North America where visitors can ride a boat across an historic aqueduct and through a working lock. The ribbon cutting ceremony to mark completion of its restoration was held in August 2019. It was also featured in an issue of World Wide Waterways shortly thereafter.
As noted during the 2020 ACI Virtual Concrete Convention, “The historic Conococheague Aqueduct on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Williamsport, MD, was restored using a combination of historic and modern materials and methods. This water-filled, three-arch bridge carried canal boats over the Conococheague Creek from 1835 to 1924. One of the aqueduct’s stone walls was replaced with a timber wall with outriggers in 1920, after a canal boat broke through and fell to the creek below, and the repair served until the aqueduct was permanently closed after two floods in 1924. The modern restoration included repairs to the existing stonework, construction of a concrete channel, and installation of timber outriggers to replicate the bridge’s 1920s appearance. With the construction of a canal turning basin and restoration of water in the aqueduct, the repair and restoration project now allows visitors to ride a boat across the historic Conococheague Aqueduct and through a working canal lock.”
Key to this project’s success was Corman Kokosing, who served as both the general contractor and concrete contractor, as well as Thomas, Bennett & Hunter, Inc., the concrete supplier.
On behalf of the entire project team, we also want to extend a special thank you to the ACI Maryland Chapter for nominating our project in the 2020 ACI Excellence Awards. Plus, we are equally excited to see this project featured in the 2021 ACI Calendar.
(Image Credit - Geoff Livingston Photography)
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