Test pile driving to begin at Seattle Terminal 5

Contractors will begin driving test piles at Terminal 5 in Seattle the first week of January. The installation will last through March. The pile driving and testing is part of the design phase of the terminal's improvements.

Planned dock improvements will make the terminal capable of accommodating heavier cranes and provide deeper drafts to handle the megaships cascading into the trans-Pacific trade.

These terminal improvements are aimed at helping the terminal compete in a changing marketplace to support jobs and create new ones, while continuing to drive economic benefits for the local community and customers.

Test results could help reduce the final number of piles required and refine the depth of installation during berth construction. This could help save money and reduce construction-related noise. About 27 piles will be installed at the edge of the Terminal 5 wharf. 

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