Sasol Heavy Haul Road Project: Functionality by Design

About the Author

• Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby, M.S., P.E., CFM

• Director, Engineering

Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby, M.S., P.E., CFM is an Engineering Director that obtained her Bachelor of… (Read More)

In December 2012, Governor Bobby Jindal announced Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC’s decision to make the largest single manufacturing investment in the State’s history at their Lake Charles Facility. As part of the $11 billion Lake Charles Chemical Project, C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates, L.L.C. was contracted to design and oversee the construction of the Heavy Haul Route that would be utilized for the shipment of almost 700 oversize/overweight modules. The design and construction of the route improved 2.4 miles of LA State Highway 379, installation of almost 3 miles of subsurface drainage, the relocation of numerous public and private utilities within the project corridor resulting in a total project cost of over $60M. Additionally, the project required an upgrade to several intersections within the Heavy Haul Route which included geometric changes, rotating mast arm signal poles, as well as the implementation of an adaptive traffic management system.

Sasol’s Heavy Haul Transport Road Project was selected as the recipient of the 2018 Louisiana Transportation Excellence Award in two categories. The award was presented at the bi-annual Louisiana Transportation Conference during a special awards ceremony at the Raising Cane’s Convention Center in Baton Rouge on February 28. This award is given to recognize projects representing the very best of the transportation industry in the State of Louisiana. The project was recognized in the categories; Use of Innovative Product or Technology and Roadway/Bridge Construction > $10 million. The Louisiana Transportation Conference is hosted by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and the Louisiana Transportation Research Center.

Fenstermaker is proud to have been a partner on this project. Many team members, representing several disciplines, contributed to this effort. Services performed included engineering, surveying, permitting, construction administration, construction inspection, and agency coordination.

The SASOL USA Mega Project – Heavy Haul Road was selected as the ACEC of Louisiana’s Grand Award Winner in the 2019 Engineering Excellence Awards. The project won in the category of Industrial & Manufacturing Process & Facilities. Click here to read more.