Wicomico River Bridge Rehabilitation

Specialty Underwater Services (SUS) is serving as the prime contractor for a $5 million bridge rehabilitation project in Wicomico County, Maryland, for the Maryland Department of Transportation. The project involves the rehabilitation of two bridge structures spanning the Wicomico River and represents one of the largest contracts in the company’s history. Construction began in late spring 2025 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2026.

The scope of work includes marine and underwater construction activities to extend the service life and structural integrity of both bridges. SUS is installing new 90-foot concrete-filled steel pipe pile dolphins, new vertical timber fender boards, and new wire bands around existing timber dolphins. The project also includes extensive rehabilitation of underwater concrete abutments and piers, as well as the stabilization of undermined abutment sections. Additionally, SUS is performing underwater epoxy crack-injection repairs to bridge abutments and piers.

As part of the rehabilitation effort, the original timber pile dolphins were removed and replaced with five new seven-pile dolphin clusters. Each cluster consists of 24-inch-diameter, ½-inch-wall, 90-foot-long steel pipe piles reinforced with epoxy-coated rebar and filled with 5,000 PSI concrete. To date, 35 pipe piles have been successfully driven. SUS’s dive teams are continuing with underwater spall repairs and epoxy injection work.

The Wicomico River Bridge Rehabilitation showcases SUS’s ability to self-perform complex underwater construction, marine piling, and structural rehabilitation work while managing large-scale projects as a general contractor for critical transportation infrastructure.

The SUS team was called in to assist with the maintenance of a dump scow barge. Two commercial diving crews worked in 24-hour rotations to complete the project on schedule and with minimal downtime. The scope of work included welding sacrificial anode protection systems to the barge’s hull to protect the vessel from corrosion and ensure its long-term structural integrity.

Specialty Underwater Services (SUS) performed substructure repairs beneath Pier Two at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Baltimore Yard. The scope of work included critical rehabilitation of the pier’s substructure to ensure long-term stability and performance. In addition, our Team replaced the pier curb and completed concrete repairs to the existing crane rail, enhancing both structural integrity and operational functionality along the waterfront.

SUS successfully completed underwater concrete repairs and dive support for the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Our team managed 1,438 linear feet of crack repair, enhancing the bridge’s structural stability, and conducted 8.5 cubic feet of spall repair to restore deteriorated concrete areas to their original state. The project also included the meticulous cleaning of 25,920 square feet of granite, significantly improving the bridge’s visual appeal. Furthermore, SUS provided invaluable welding and burning support to the general contractor, demonstrating our ability to deliver comprehensive and effective solutions in complex underwater settings.

Specialty Underwater Services (SUS), was awarded the work to provide selective demolition of the existing steel and UHMW fender panel system at the existing Loading Platform Bulkhead. Work consisted of the extraction of 16 existing 12x53 H Piles 80’ in length and the fabrication of a new steel fender panel system utilizing 14x73  H-Piles and 12”x12” timber blocks. The new system was sandblasted and coated prior to installation. SUS used a 44B Ice vibrator hammer to drive 11 new 14x73 H-Piles 85’ long with the new panels field welded to the H-Piles to complete the new fender system.

SUS performed the removal of 20 each Concrete Anchored Marine Navaigational Buoys and replaced them with the installation of 20 pile-supported channel markers along a key section of the Intracoastal Waterway, stretching from Little Egg Harbor to the Metedeconk River. This  project  enhances  the  safety  and  navigability of this busy waterway.

The project involved driving 70 linear foot pipe piles at precise GPS coordinates utilizing a 200 ton crane situated on a 155’ x 55’ ABS-rated crane barge.  Once  driven,  fabricated steel hangers along with Owner supplied day beacons and marker lights were installed using a telescopic boom lift secured to the crane barge. All work was performed in close coordination with the USCG and a disabled veterans construction firm.

SUS inspected the existing marine structure catwalk, removed it and installed a new structural catwalk.

SUS installed a new fire line for Anne Arundel County. Our team mobilized to excavate and remove an existing 6-inch fire line, replacing it with a durable 6-inch HDPE fire line tailored for long-term use. In addition to the pipeline work, SUS installed a roadside adaptor, enabling the Anne Arundel County Fire Department to quickly connect to the water supply in emergency situations.

SUS mobilized and installed a concrete support pad to hold a prefabricated storage shed. SUS also excavated and installed 2” and 12” HDPE pipes to be used as the air delivery system.

Specialty Underwater Services was contracted to perform work for Concrete General, Inc and Maryland State Highway Administration to assist in the repairs to Maryland Route 6, New Market Turner Road over Persimmon Creek. The work consisted of the installation of 2 each 60’ long test piles and62 each 60’ long production piles utilizing 12 x53HP’s. The project also required the installation 2each 3 sided coffer cells with 46 pair of PZC18sheet piling - 50 feet in length. The coffer cells also including the installation of 2 wales.

Specialty Underwater Services (SUS) was awarded the work to install Pile Jackets for 25” (total of 258 lf) and 37” (1,270 lf) existing piles. Installation work consisted of cleaning the pile with a high-pressure water blaster, installation of the pile jacket, and securing it in place. Then grout would be installed either by pumping or pouring. This work was performed both above and below the waterline by our commercial divers and top side support staff. During the performance of this work additional work was awarded via a change order to mobilize our marine construction crew with our 34’ x 110’ crane barge to remove multiple timber pile obstructions from the Neal Sound Channel, making the navigatable waters safe for vessel traffic.

SUS was chartered for a unique project that required taking delivery of two custom fabricated, restaurant-equipped sea containers at our waterfront fleeting facility in Baltimore, and placing and securing them onto our deck barge. After the containers were secure, SUS then delivered them by water and set them with our heavy lift crane barge onto a newly renovated pier at RobinsonLanding.

SUS was contracted for the condition survey and pier construction repairs consisting of heavy timber cap beam and crossbracing replacement. Working hand-in-hand with a unique mix of marine construction and diving personnel, SUS completed this project within a few days and allowed the terminal to stay active during the work. The team also completed some localized debris removal near the mooring area for safety.

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Specialty Underwater Services (SUS) pile driving crews were called out on multiple occasions from our Baltimore waterfront facility to provide some quick needed work for the boating season. On one trip timber piles were removed and disposed of properly and replaced new piles. In addition, damaged facial timbers and hardware were replaced and new hardware was installed at the floating dock connection. Subsequent trips included the removal and disposal and replacement of timber piles.

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This project consisted of mobilizing our tug and crane barge from our Baltimore facility to support the removal of over 1,500 LF of timber piles and 1,100 LF of steel pipe piles. Our team also dismantled and disposed of 10,000 SF of aging floating dock structures and terminated the utilities at the bulkhead.

Specialty Underwater Services was contracted to provide Pier Rehabilitation. The work consisted of the removal of the existing Timber Structures, Dolphins and Piles along with the  demolition  and  removal  of  the  existing boathouse, light poles and pier handrails. Once  the  demolition  work  was  completed  concrete  repairs  were made  to  the  under-deck of pier, the pier deck itself and the  concrete  curbs.    New  Concrete  curb  was  installed  along  with  structural  steel  repairs. A  new  “D” fender  was  installed  around  the  pier  and  the  sheet  pile  wall  was  extended  for  the  bulkhead and a new concrete cap was poured.