Byers Lake Campground and Outlet Bridge Geotechnical Investigation (Trapper Creek, Alaska)
Updated: 3 days ago
Helicopter-Dupported Site Investigation Informs Bridge Replacement and Campground Paving Design
The Byers Lake Campground and Outlet Bridge Geotechnical Investigation supported planned improvements at the campground in Denali State Park, including replacement of the failing bridge at the lake outlet, paving of campground roads, parking areas, and the boat launch, and potential upgrades to campground infrastructure. The investigation comprised nine geotechnical borings, laboratory testing, and geotechnical recommendations for the bridge and pavement elements. Site access was remote enough that the drill rig was flown in by helicopter, and fieldwork proceeded under extreme weather conditions with drilling and laboratory subcontractors coordinated across the schedule. Emprise Concepts oversaw the drilling program, logged subsurface conditions, performed dynamic cone penetrometer testing in the lake outlet channel, and prepared the geotechnical engineering report supporting design.
Project Information
Project Scope:
Geotechnical site investigation consisting of nine borings, laboratory testing, and geotechnical recommendations supporting outlet bridge replacement and campground paving design.
Unique Features:
Helicopter Access for Drill Rig
DCP Testing in the Lake Outlet Channel
Extreme Weather Field Conditions
Coordination of Drilling and Laboratory Subcontractors
Our Services:
Geotechnical Drilling Oversight
Subsurface Logging
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Testing
Sampling and Laboratory Testing Coordination
Bearing Capacity and Pavement Subgrade Evaluation
Geotechnical Engineering Report
Emprise Personnel:
Project Manager, Project Engineer and Field Lead: Noah Kimmes
Project Engineer: Veronica Rodriguez Chavarria
Impacts & Benefits
Bridge Foundation Design Basis: Soil conditions and bearing capacity were evaluated at the outlet bridge location to support replacement of the failing structure.
Pavement Subgrade Characterization: Subgrade conditions were characterized for pavement design across the campground roads, parking areas, and boat launch.
Design Frost Depth Established: A design frost depth was computed for use in foundation embedment and pavement section design.
Documented Ground Variability: Subsurface conditions were found to differ significantly between the campground and bridge areas, and that finding was carried into the recommendations along with the key construction constraints identified during the program.
Project Gallery
Client Perspective
“Well written and with very insightful analysis.”
— Rangell Soriano, P.E. (Project Manager, Design and Construction, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation)
Project Summary
The Byers Lake Campground and Outlet Bridge Geotechnical Investigation supported planned improvements at Byers Lake Campground in Denali State Park for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The improvements include replacing the failing bridge at the lake outlet, paving the campground roads, parking areas, and boat launch, and potential upgrades to campground infrastructure. The investigation comprised nine geotechnical borings with laboratory testing, executed between October 2025 and April 2026. Remote site conditions required the drill rig to be flown in by helicopter, and dynamic cone penetrometer testing was used as an alternative method in the lake outlet channel where drilling was impractical. Emprise Concepts oversaw the field program and prepared the geotechnical engineering report covering bridge foundation, pavement subgrade, and earthwork recommendations.
Project Writeup
Emprise Concepts oversaw the geotechnical drilling operations at Byers Lake, logged subsurface conditions across nine borings, collected samples, and coordinated the drilling and laboratory subcontractors through a field program constrained by remote access and extreme weather. The drill rig was flown to the site by helicopter. In the lake outlet channel, where conventional drilling was not practical, Emprise performed dynamic cone penetrometer testing to characterize the near-surface soils. The investigation addressed three objectives: evaluating soil conditions and bearing capacity at the bridge location, characterizing subgrade conditions for pavement design in the campground and boat launch area, and developing geotechnical recommendations for earthwork and construction. Emprise prepared the geotechnical engineering report presenting the findings, which documented significant differences in subsurface conditions between the campground and bridge areas, established a design frost depth, and identified the construction constraints affecting the planned improvements.
