Opinion ID: 185896
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Dewatering and Grout Hole Provisions

Text: 8 Section 205 of the contract governed dewatering. It not only set forth a detailed dewatering system for the project, but also required KiSKA to implement the system specified therein: The Contractor shall proceed with the installation of the specified dewatering system as soon as possible after notice to proceed. Contract § 205, ¶ 1.1(A). Two subsections touched on the question whether the contract required the dewatering system to maintain the groundwater level at two feet below tunnel invert. Section 205(1.2)(B)(3) read, in pertinent part, as follows: 9 For mined earth tunnels, additional wells beyond the specified minimum dewatering system may be required to effectively reduce hydrostatic pressure and control groundwater in soil surrounding each tunnel in order to prevent the following: 10 a. Heaving of the invert, blowups, hazardous seepage and sudden flow of soil in tunnel face. 11 b. Loss of ground and surface subsidence. 12 c. Maintain groundwater 2 feet below invert. 13 Id. § 205, ¶ 1.2(B)(3). Section 205(1.1)(A) also addressed dewatering, stating that [t]he designed dewatering system may not eliminate all groundwater from the tunnel excavation. The Contractor shall be prepared to support the tunnel face ... and to handle and convey groundwater from the tunnel to appropriate discharge locations. Id. § 205, ¶ 1.1(A). This subsection further provided that [a]dditional dewatering wells may be required based on the observed performance of the dewatering system. Id. 14 Section 239 of the contract covered pre-support chemical grouting, specifying the precise location of thousands of surface pre-support grout holes to stabilize the soil around the tunnels. In particular, Section 239(1.1)(B) provided that [p]re-support chemical grouting shall be preformed [sic] from the existing ground surface at locations shown on the contract drawings. Id. § 239, ¶ 1.1(B). Although these drawings depicted grout holes drilled vertically at five-foot intervals in a diamond grid pattern, see JA 1001, Section 239(3.2)(A) stated that grout piping should be installed horizontally, vertically or inclined, as required, Contract § 239, ¶ 3.2(A). In [the] case of [a] discrepancy between Drawings and Specifications, the contract's General Provisions provided that the Specifications shall govern. JA 755.