As part of the I-69 new highway construction in southern Indiana, HIS Constructors, Inc. (HIS) was contracted by the Indiana Department of Transportation to create a new 157 acre wetlands. This was required by federal regulation to offset any wetlands destroyed by the construction of the new interstate.
The project involved acreage that previously included a large hog farm. As part of the environmental mitigation, HIS Constructors, Inc. demoed the existing hog barn and pumped down two waste ponds from previous farm operations. The ponds contained high levels of ammonia from animal waste. HIS Constructors, Inc. treated and removed over six million gallons of water and then proceeded to plant seed and wet plugs in order to make the ponds suitable for area wildlife. Over 7,000 wet plugs were planted.
As part of the project, HIS Constructors, Inc. planted a variety of seedlings to recreate a natural habitat. Species included: Red Maple, Butternut Hickory, Bur Oak, Pine and many others. In total, over 73,000 new seedlings were planted. In addition, over 8,000 cubic yards of material were excavated and moved in order to create dikes and step pools for area wildlife.
HIS Constructors, Inc. (HIS) was contracted to remove contaminated sediments, restore 1,500 lft. of steep slope and to install 400 lft. of interceptor trench to collect DNAPL product from an old city dump site. Creek diversion was completed using earthen and rock dams. The interceptor ditch consisted of 400 lft. of 6 inch perforated HDPE pipelined with a 60-mil liner and 3 manholes to collect the material and to keep it from seeping out. HIS reconstructed the slope area and stabilized the bottom 8 inches of slope with rip rap. During the upper slope stabilization, HIS moved over 11,000 cubic yards of waste material to an onsite disposal area then covered that area with a clay liner. Once this material was placed, HIS then placed a reinforced turf mat along with a mulch topsoil for permanent erosion control measures.
HIS Constructors, Inc. (HIS) was contracted to perform a creek restoration project at a former manufacturing plant. As part of the project, HIS removed over 7,000 cubic yards of waterway excavation. The project also required the importation of 6,000 cubic yards for material for the construction of two berms. Once excavation activities were completed, HIS Constructors, Inc. also created ATV trails and installed habitat improvements with the addition of deadfalls and nesting boxes.