Laurel Valley Soils

High-quality compost products since 1979

Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension Lane and Shoulder Expansion Project

Stormwater Management

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To elevate a traffic bottleneck and promote a safer roadway, the PA Turnpike Commission added one driving lane and wider shoulders in both directions. With the increase of impervious surface coverage, bioretention basins were installed periodically along the length of the highway. The onsite soil was a combination of thin clay soil with a large percentage of shale rock, so utilizing onsite soil was not an option. Laurel Valley Soils blended the Biosoil using a combination of locally sourced loam soil, coarse concrete sand and STA Certified Premium Compost. 

On average, 500 yards per day was produced and delivered. Testing was provided regularly as part of the verification process required by the Turnpike Commission. While this project was a very heavy lift especially taking into account that the regular production schedule was needed to simultaneously be fulfilled, customer expectations standards were maintained for all deliveries.

The project was a huge success and Laurel Valley Soils was proud to be a part of this important infrastructure improvement.

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A bypass connector loop road was installed to circumvent and ease congestion at the Route 30 and Route 41 intersection, a very busy, major transportation corridor. Several stormwater basins lined with a PennDOT specified amended soil with a high organic matter content, were strategically installed to capture the storm water runoff from the new road surface.

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As part of a new outdoor retail shopping center, a stormwater management plan adhering to local BMP’s was developed. Several bioretention basins were strategically located throughout the property to capture stormwater runoff from the buildings and paved areas. DNREC B-14 bioretention soil was specified as it is the standardized mix for all bioretention basins constructed in the state of Delaware.

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A new mixed use retail shopping center anchored by a Wegmans Grocery Store was developed. As part of its stormwater management plan to adhere to local BMP’s, several bioretention basins were strategically located throughout the property to capture stormwater runoff from the buildings and paved areas.

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The Naval Support Activity Base is a large complex of expansive warehouses and paved surfaces. It was determined based on new BMP’s that the base was exceeding its impervious surface allowance. In an effort to manage the base’s stormwater from leaving the site, an obsolete warehouse was demolished and a large bioretention basin was installed in its footprint.

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The Church of the Latter Day Saints Project in Center City Philadelphia, more than any other, exemplifies what we do best and what sets us apart from the competition. We were required to deliver a large volume of soil during a very tight time frame and within an even tighter and congested construction delivery zone.

Within the CLDS campus, several greenspaces were created including lawns, ornamental shrubs beds, flower gardens and mature tree plantings. All these were installed on top of the ground level roof of the subterranean parking garage and the first floor roof of the Welcoming Center. A combination of soils were designed and installed in a layered system in specific depths. Some of the soil was delivered in bulk and installed using an 80ft conveyor and some of the soil was delivered in super sacks and installed with a crane.

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Cira Green, Philadelphia’s first elevated park, is a 1.25 acre oasis located on an 11th story parking garage overlooking the Schuylkill River. It is also Philadelphia’s first blue-green roof which contains a “hidden” stormwater management system to irrigate the native plants, trees, perennials and grasses planted throughout. Due to logistical constraints during construction, the over 2000 yards of rooflite® Certified Green Roof Media was delivered “just in time” to the site and transported to the 11th story via a blower truck.

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The beautiful turn of the century campus within the Philadelphia Navy Yard complex provided a great canvas for new buildings and landscapes to support Philadelphia’s burgeoning tech and Pharma economy. Knowing the entire landmass is man-made and built from river dredge and mainland soil spoils (with a brackish high water table) means a challenge for landscapes. And that’s not including standard legacy industrial soil contamination issues.

To address these concerns and ensure a successful and functional landscape for the Central Green project, Soil Scientist Tim Craul was brought in. After evaluating the existing soil conditions, he specified a two-layer soil system containing a coarse base layer for drainage to support a more organic root zone planting layer. Together, the soil layers work to support plant life while also maintaining optimum soil moisture and the ability to filter and infiltrate stormwater.

C. Caramanico and Sons spread over 3,000 yards of Laurel Valley Custom Engineered Soil to create Central Green’s “social space”, a six acre park-like setting. The landscape is a beautiful sanctuary for people to enjoy, play in, and unwind amongst aesthetically pleasing yet functional bioswales and rain gardens, seemingly hidden right before your eyes.

The award-winning landscape was designed by James Corner Field Operations, most recognized as being the Project Lead on NYC’s famous High Line, and is a wonderful example of what the future of urban stormwater management is all about.

© 2022 Laurel Valley Soils. A subsidiary of Laurel Valley Farms, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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