Experts in Tainter gate rehabilitations and spillway upgrades for aging hydroelectric and flood control structures

The Challenge

Located at B.A. Steinhagen Lake on the Neches River (Town Bluff Dam, TX), this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project required critical rehabilitation of the spillway Tainter gates on a dam that provides flood control, water supply, and recreation for East Texas.

The Tainter gates demanded upgrades while the structure remained in active service, under fluctuating reservoir levels and restricted access. Key challenges included:

• Wire rope removal, tensioning, and replacement of the gate hoist systems in a live, wet environment
• Complete replacement of deteriorated J-bulb seals to restore integrity
• Replacement of structural members
• Structural welding (AWS D1.1) on corroded gate components (strut arm webs, vertical ribs and girder stiffeners)
• Full containment with negative-pressure abrasive blasting and coating removal in an environmentally sensitive area directly adjacent to the reservoir
• Design and installation of new wire rope UHWM wear plates

How We Delivered

Paragon self-performed 100% of the scope: structural steel repairs, wire rope tensioning, J-bulb seal replacement, certified welding, AMPP- class 1A containment, and abrasive blasting with full lead paint removal protocols — all while maintaining unrestricted dam operation.

Using our customized work platforms, custom rigging, real-time reservoir monitoring, and our in-house AMPP-certified teams, Paragon rehabilitated the Tainter Gates with zero lost-time incidents, zero environmental incidents, and no interruptions to flood control. The project was completed 10 months ahead of schedule, delivering exceptional value to USACE and minimizing impacts on downstream users and regional water needs.