Tahquamenon Falls: Concrete Pumping In Paradise

As the sun began to set on our first day of concrete pumping beside Tahquamenon Falls (also called root beer falls), two guys of JDE’s four-man operating crew looked out and gazed in wonder at the thick, frothy, golden-brown water cascading into the river.

One of them commented: “You know that’s natural, right? The color? It comes from the plants and bark.” The other nodded and replied: “I know. Makes you thirsty.” They shared a laugh then and got back to work.

Beneath the humor and levity, there was fierce grit, commitment, and determination, too. All of which are essential when tackling large projects and completing them in efficient time.

Which is precisely what JDE did in four days at Tahquamenom Falls.

JDE Concrete arrived at Michigan’s upper peninsula with a clear and simple mission: help build a new access point to the Upper Falls, which is a popular tourist spot for hiking, birding and sightseeing.

Accomplishing this meant removing the 94-step stairway that already existed and constructing a 900-foot switchback boardwalk in its place. The boardwalk would provide greater safety compared to the aging stairway. It would also make the picturesque trail accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and people with mobility issues.

JDE collaborated with Soil & Structures and Northern Sand & Gravel for a large-scale concrete pumping operation to aid in the boardwalk’s construction.

We came well-equipped for the job: two pumps (Schwing SPTO 4000 and SP 500), 4 capable operators, and over 25 years of expertise as Michigan’s leading concrete contractor.

That knowledge and experience proved handy when installing 141 yards of concrete and 1,320 feet of hose-pipe, including: 1,005 feet of 4’’ hose,  180 feet of 3’’ hose, and 135 feet of 2 ½” hose.

No concrete pumping project is complete without its challenges, whether that’s weather, soil or geography.

At Tahquamenom Falls, it was the steepness of the slope adjacent to the water, which meant we could not use machinery for the 425 Sono Tubes that were vital for this project.

But who needs machines when you’ve got two hands and a shovel, right? Fueled by that mindset and our uncompromising ethos for hard work, the guys did all the digging by hand. Afterwards, they were muddy, sweaty and sore…but sometimes, that’s the way it goes.

It took our four-man operating crew a total of four days to complete the work. As construction ended, they all took a moment to stand and gaze out one final time at the golden-brown root beer falls. Then, with the sun setting, they went out for a taste of the real thing!

JDE Concrete is proud and honored to have contributed to such an important project. Here are some snaps from our four-day stay at Tahquamenom Falls.

For projects big or small, simple or complex, JDE Concrete is the go-to contractor for all your concrete needs. Whether its to build large commercial infrastructure or beautify your residential property, we guarantee strength, longevity, and winter-ready construction.

Call (616) 551-2126 and book your free consultation today!