In 2019, Skyline Scaffold was originally contracted to provide access and working platforms for the Cedar Creek Dam and Pyramid Spillway project in California. The company completed the work at hand and was then contacted again in 2023 for phase two鈥檚 similar work.

View from flat to slope of the spillway. (Photo: Skyline Scaffold)

Walking stairs and the creek bridge at the bottom of the dam鈥檚 spillway. (Photo: Skyline Scaffold)

Tasked by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to provide innovative access and scaffold solutions on rugged terrain, including suspended scaffolding, stair towers and mobile platforms, all while working against tight deadlines, Skyline got the job done - and took home the 2024 Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) Industrial Collaborative Project of the Year Award for its work.

Engineering Ingenuity

Pyramid Dam is located roughly 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and provides water storage for the greater Los Angeles area. The dam was built between 1969 and 1973 as part of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) State Water Project (SWP). It is adjacent to the reservoir of Pyramid Lake.

This reservoir plays a vital role in the region鈥檚 water storage and flood control.Recognizing the paramount importance of maintaining this infrastructure, the DWR initiated a comprehensive assessment and modernization initiative, with a particular focus on the dam鈥檚 gated and emergency spillways.

Skyline Scaffold鈥檚 involvement in the project began in 2019, initially focusing on providing safe access for thorough inspections of the spillways.

Fast forward to 2023, and SkyLine Scaffold was back on site to provide all necessary access and working platforms for the spillway repair. This included stair towers inside and outside the spillways, an 11-meter inclined suspended scaffold with a 600-foot drop at a steep angle, and observation and mobile towers for the spillway.

The stair tower at the top of Cedar Creek spillway.

Additionally, SkyLine provided walkways to access the uneven terrain and bridges over creeks so the project team could get to the locations they needed without additional fears of rattlesnakes and other hazards.

Complex Access Solutions

The areas surrounding both the Cedar Creek and Pyramid Dam spillways presented logistical hurdles.

鈥淭his project was a challenging endeavor due to its location in the rugged backcountry of the southern district of the California Water Project,鈥� Skyline said.

High line to access the spillway. (Photo: Skyline Scaffold)

Often, Skyline had to build access solutions in order to simply move equipment across a hazard in order to build the actual access. On both occasions Skyline was contracted, the project had tight timelines to complete repairs before the winter rains began. This made efficient and innovative access solutions crucial.

The entire project needed - and utilized - rope work professions from Mistras rope specialists, as well as specialty trained Skyline Scaffold personnel to access the entire spillway, move gear by helicopter to the build site and provide a safe means of investigation and repair.

Contract value stood at $294,000 and work was completed in two phases: September 2019-March 2020, and September 2023-December 2023.

Collaborative Efforts

The success of the project was bolstered by strategic collaborations with industry experts:

• Performance Swing Stage
• DH Charles Engineering
• Bee Access
• Direct Scaffold Supply

Skyline Saffold honored with SAIA award The Skyline Scaffold team accepting the SAIA鈥檚 2024 Industrial Collaborative Project of the Year Award. (Photo: SAIA) Skyline Scaffold鈥檚 work on the Cedar Creek and Pyramid Dam spillways was awarded the 2024 Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) Industrial Collaborative Project of the Year Award. This prestigious accolade honors projects that exemplify outstanding collaboration and innovation within the scaffold and access industry. The award was presented during the SAIA鈥檚 Annual Convention & Exposition held on October 3, 2024, in Denver. Skyline Scaffold鈥檚 collaborative efforts with Performance Swing Stage, DH Charles Engineering, Bee Access and DSS were instrumental in overcoming the complex challenges presented by the dam projects. 鈥淲e are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from SAIA,鈥� said a Skyline Scaffold representative. 鈥淭his award underscores the dedication and expertise of our team and partners in delivering safe and efficient access solutions for critical infrastructure projects.鈥� To learn more about the SAIA Project and Member Awards, or to enter an award submission, visit www.saiaonline.org/awards.