Michigan Deep Excavation Rescue: LKD Soil Drying Restores Grade at MSU’s Chiller Plant

Preserving Schedule and Mitigating Risk

Deep excavations demand stability—especially when a critical operation like tie-back anchoring is on the line. At Michigan State University’s chiller plant in East Lansing, water trapped in clay seams created a “waterbed” effect around 20 feet deep, preventing the tie-back machine from holding grade and threatening the schedule. Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group mobilized with a targeted Lime Kiln Dust (LKD) soil drying plan to restore bearing capacity quickly. The result: a stable working platform achieved after four non-consecutive working days of treatment in early May, followed by a 48-hour cure, so anchors could resume without further delay.

Project Snapshot 

• Owner: Michigan State University (MSU)
• Customer: Hoffman Brothers, Inc.
• Location: East Lansing, Michigan
• Scope: Soil drying of unstable subgrade to restore grade for tie-back anchors
• Treatment Plan: LKD at approximately 6% to a depth of 4 feet
• Area Treated: 3,000+ square yards
• Materials Installed: 300+ tons of Lime Kiln Dust (LKD)
• Timeline: Four non-consecutive working days in early May (treatment only) + 48-hour cure
• Outcome: Stable working platform; tie-back machine held grade; anchor installation resumed

The Challenge: “Waterbed” Subgrade

As excavation progressed, sand pockets were holding water within clay seams—classic perched water behavior in glacial soils. Under foot, the subgrade behaved like a waterbed, reducing bearing capacity and causing the tie-back machine to lose grade. With anchors paused, schedule risk, cost exposure, and safety concerns escalated for the project team.

The Solution: Targeted LKD Soil Drying at Depth  

To address the water-affected layer without disrupting the excavation plan, our team executed a controlled LKD treatment designed to:

• Break up seams and improve the soil matrix
• Uniformly blend LKD at a 6% rate to 4 feet of depth
• Reduce moisture and build near-term strength and stiffness where it mattered most

Using patented application and blending methods, we delivered the treatment precisely within the footprint, ensuring quality and repeatability while protecting proprietary equipment details.

Execution and Cure: Fast, Controlled, Documented  

Over four non-consecutive working days in early May, we applied and blended more than 300 tons of LKD across 3,000+ square yards. After treatment, the lift was allowed to cure for 48 hours to reach the target workability and strength. Throughout, our crew followed safety and QA checks on application rate, depth, and uniformity to ensure predictable performance.

Results: Grade Restored, Schedule Preserved

After cure, the tie-back machine operated on a stable platform and anchor installation resumed—protecting the schedule and avoiding cost escalation. The approach is repeatable for deep excavations encountering perched water and wet seams across North America’s variable soil profiles.

A Word from the Field

“By breaking up the seams, uniformly blending in LKD at approximately six percent to about four feet, and giving it two days to cure, the lift became solid enough for the tie-back machine to hold grade and achieve its goals.” — Pat Creel, Project Manager, Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group

Why This Matters for Michigan Projects

Michigan’s glacial soils, tight weather windows, and high groundwater variability demand fast, reliable stabilization. Backed by a national fleet and over 75 years leading in soil stabilization, Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group is expanding our Michigan presence to help project engineers accelerate timelines, extend construction seasons, and reduce risk—safely and predictably.

Conclusion

When conditions are unpredictable and failure isn’t an option, Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group brings the plan, the people, and the tools to keep your most critical excavation operations moving—safely, reliably, and fast.

Need to stabilize an excavation or recover days from your schedule in Michigan?

Connect with your regional project manager for a rapid feasibility assessment and treatment plan.