News Release > Carolinas AGC Announces 2006 Pinnacle Award Winners

For additional information, including project photos :
Lori Tharp , Carolinas AGC
(704) 372-1450, ext. 5227; ltharp@carolinasagc.org

RALEIGH AREA CONTRACTOR EARNS TOP HONORS FOR WORK ON HYDROELECTRIC FISH PASSAGE FACILITY

Contractor: Thalle Construction Company, Hillsborough , NC

CHARLOTTE –February 2007 – The Columbia, SC Hydroelectric Project Fish Passage Facility has earned the 2006 “Best Utility Project ” Pinnacle Award from Carolinas Associated General Contractors (AGC). Hillsborough, NC-based Thalle Construction Company” performed as prime contractor on the project.

For over 100 years a dam at Columbia 's Broad River has blocked the path of migratory fish. Thalle constructed a custom “ladder” to allow these fish to overcome the dam and move upstream, plus a downstream fish passage structure to allow migrating fish to return to the ocean. Because the fish ladder and the minimum flow gate were not adjacent, two separate cofferdams were required to allow the dam demolition and protect the new construction, which had to be redesigned on the fly to meet changing conditions.

The judging panel was so impressed with this unique project that their vote was unanimous.

The Best Utility Project award was presented to Thalle Construction Company at the Carolinas AGC Annual Convention in St. Thomas , Virgin Islands , January 26, 2007 .

As the largest AGC chapter in the nation with 3,000 member firms, Carolinas AGC's mission is to build its members' businesses through workforce development, business development, profit management, and CompTrust AGC –a self-insured workers' compensation trust. More than 75% of commercial and industrial construction (buildings, highways/bridges, utility facilities) in both North and South Carolina is performed or supported by Carolinas AGC members.