Building From the Ground Up: A Solid Milestone for Flathead County’s New Safety Facility
Construction milestones aren’t always measured in rising steel beams. Sometimes, the most vital progress is taking root deep beneath the surface.
Last week, the Flathead County Commissioners visited the site of the new Public Safety Facility to view a major achievement firsthand: specialized ground-improvement crews have officially installed over 1,100 aggregate piers into the building footprint. While a network of underground stone columns may look quiet from the surface, it forms the structural backbone of the entire project.
Delivering a build of this magnitude requires seamless collaboration. As General Contractor and Construction Manager, Martel Construction directs the overarching site phasing, schedule, and trade coordination. The technical design and physical installation of the engineered aggregate piers was awarded to specialized subcontractor MT Helical Pier.
So, what exactly are Engineered Aggregate Piers (EAPs), and why are they essential before structural concrete is placed?
The Flathead Valley is famous for its rich, dynamic landscape, but that natural geology often features layers of softer soil that can settle or compress under heavy loads. Rather than hauling away massive quantities of native earth, aggregate piers reinforce the soil from within. Dense pillars of crushed stone are vibrated and compacted deep into the earth under high pressure, stiffening the native ground. Together, these piers create a stable, uniform foundation capable of supporting heavy loads, resisting seismic activity, and preventing uneven settling for decades to come.
Quality assurance and fiscal accountability are integrated into every step. Martel coordinates on-site with Alpine Geotechnical, a third-party engineering firm conducting specialized inspections and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT). This testing verifies structural bearing capacity and allows engineers to calibrate precise pier spacing across varying soil pockets, ensuring uncompromised safety while preventing unnecessary spending.
“Anyone who builds in the Flathead knows our soil doesn’t always make things easy, but the coordination out here has been exceptional,” remarked Commissioner Randy Brodehl after touring the worksite. “Martel’s proactive site management, paired with the tireless, seven-day push from MT Helical, shows just how dedicated everyone is to doing this right. By tackling our native soil head-on, we are ensuring this facility serves our community on rock-solid ground for generations.”
To see the most recent updates, photos, and project milestones on the facility, visit our website at https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/commissioners-office/project-and-engineering/new-jail.