CHAPTER II, SECTION 2
SECTION 2
CONSTRUCTION
The Construction and Maintenance Division
was responsible for the construction of all buildings, scientific structures, facilities, roads, and
utility systems at EPG as authorized by approved Work Orders. It was also responsible for pro-
Two typhoons in late 1957 caused damage
to some structures on both Bikini and Eniwetok
work for all departments and User agencies.
Atolls, but in general, climatic conditions had no
adverse effects on the construction program;
rainfall conformed to the averages of the past
five years. Oceanic conditions and tides limited
the working time on the reefs and on a number
During construction periods a General
Superintendent was assigned to Bikini Atoll,
of occasions prevented the off-loading of materials and equipment.
Superintendents assigned to various sites. In
necessitated the removal, relocation, and even
viding Jobsite mechanical and machine shop
where he acted as the field liaison representative
of the Division. Assisting him were Construction
Last minute changes in barge criteria often
addition to construction responsibilities, these
the deletion of certain installations, but in spite
management of their sites and for observance
of established safety and security rules and regulations.
the Using agencies as they were required. UCRL
barges were delivered to Bikini by LSD or by
Navy tow. One barge being towed to Bikini was
The first construction project of any appre-
and another was partially sunk while in tow;
Superintendents were responsible for the over-all
ciable size in 1957 was the rehabilitation of airfield paving on Site Fred, which is covered in
detail in Section 5 of this Chapter. Personnel
strength started to increase in April 1957, with
skilled workers requisitioned on the basis of a
steadily increasing number of projects. A total
of 429 men were assigned to the Construction
and Maintenance Division by June 1957, of
which 148 were assigned to the newly-opened
Nan camp. Work started on a large concrete
structure, Station 1312, on Site Janet on 9 Sep-
tember 1957, shortly before the opening of that
camp in October; by January 1958 construction
of many Scientific Stations was in progress, re-
quiring 988 construction workers on the job. The
personnel peak was reached during the week of
8 April 1958, with 1338 men assigned to the
Division.
Even with this peak of construction person-
nel, the priority completion of a numberoffacili-
ties in the PAC program, the existing heavy
work load on the Scientific Stations, the late
receipt at Jobsite of design changes, and certain
material shortages resulted in the necessity for
a strictly controlled overtime policy to meet
certain of the construction schedules.
As facilities were completed, workers were
either returned to their points-of-hire or transferred to other jobs requiring their skills. Roll-up
of the tempory camps resulted in the further
reduction of construction personnel. By 1 June
1958, the Division’s personnel strength was reduced to 934 men, of which 163 were working
on the Johnston Island project.At that time the
program was enlarged and Work Orders were
received for additional Scientific Stations on
Eniwetok Atoll, including 7 additional scientific
barges and LCU hulls.
of these problems, the barges were delivered to
damaged when heavy seas were encountered,
the latter was recovered, placed in drydock, and
rehabilitated.
Prefabrication methods were used to the
utmost for both wooden and concrete structures,
including re-inforcing steel, which was cut and
shaped at Elmerfor all jobs. Concrete placement
forms, building sections, barge device cabs, and
helium tunnels were prefabricated at Elmer and
at temporary camps for delivery to required
locations. Submarine cable vaults, pump houses
and sumps, small slabs, anchor blocks, etc., were
poured at centralized locations and delivered
where needed. Materials for the temporary camp-
sites and Weather Stations were precut at either
Elmer or Nan.
At the time construction was started on
the temporary camps, there was a combined inventory of 59,864 cubic yards of aggregate of
all sizes stockpiled at Elmer, Fred, and Nan.
This quantity was supplemented by producing
an additional 58,813 cubic yards from 21 July
1957 through 18 May 1958. At the end of that
period, there was an inventory of 51,791 cubic
yards of all sizes stockpiled, indicating that
66,886 cubic yards of aggregate were used at all
locations through 18 May 1958. As camps were
opened, primary and secondary crushers were
installed at Elmer, Janet, Nan, and Oboe. Elmer
produced all aggregate used on Yvonne, while
the Janet plant served the other islands in the
northern part of Eniwetok Atoll. Nan produced
what aggregate was required at that site and
the northern islands of Bikini Atoll, and the
plant at Oboe supplied the needs of the Tare
Complex and the other islands on the west side
of Bikini Atoll.
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