Federal Portfolio

Project
Garver designed a traveling bulkhead system for temporary closure of the tainter gate bays at the Table Rock Dam Auxiliary Spillway.

Hanging from a monorail, the 90-ton steel traveling bulkhead is positioned in front of a gate bay by motorized trolleys. As a pump dewaters the bay, the resulting differential pressure on the bulkhead presses it into the opening and seals the gate bay. This allows operation of the tainter gate for demonstration or maintenance purposes without releasing water downstream. Afterward, a valve in the bulkhead opens to rewater the gate bay. This releases pressure on the bulkhead and readies it to move to another gate bay.

Due to the monorail's location under the bridge, removing the bulkhead for maintenance is a complicated procedure. Portable cranes are used to detach and lower the bulkhead. Flotation tanks on the top and bottom of the bulkhead enable the bulkhead to float in a horizontal position for towing to a designated maintenance area.

• Design

• ACEC of Arkansas Engineering Excellence Award
• ACEC of Arkansas Grand Conceptor Award