Constructed in the early 1920s, the 220 MW coal-fired Martin Drake Power Plant in downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, was decommissioned and contracted to Independence Excavating for demolition following the construction of a 200 MW natural gas plant adjacent to the site. The demolition and decommissioning project was a coordinated effort between Burns & McDonnell Engineering (Consultant/Construction Manager), Colorado Springs Utilities (Owner), and the Independence Excavating (IX) team.

The project scope included the removal of regulated materials such as oils, greases, universal wastes, and asbestos-containing materials, along with the demolition of three coal-fired boilers, baghouses, stacks, cooling towers, and coal, ash, and limestone handling structures - including the underground coal unloader, conveyors, and retention basins.

To execute the demolition, IX crews employed a variety of techniques. While structures like the ash handling and cooling towers were conventionally razed using a 1250 High Reach Excavator, the main plant required a more technical approach. Boiler 5 was structurally separated from Boilers 6 and 7, with connecting beams and lateral bracing removed at every elevation, including the roof. Boilers 6 and 7 were gutted floor by floor from the bottom up, leaving only the superheater, steam drums, and superstructure intact. The remaining structure was then selectively pre-cut per engineering specifications and hinge-pulled, followed by the conventional demolition of all three boilers.

A significant milestone in the project was the demolition of stacks 6 and 7, standing 250 feet and 200 feet, respectively. Given the project’s proximity to the interstate, and the downtown neighborhood, as well as the presence of an asbestos-containing mastic, the two concrete stacks could not be felled. Instead, asbestos abatement for stack 7 was performed using ultra-high-pressure water blasting at 20,000 PSI, working from a scaffold system installed inside the stack - a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the scaffold and abatement contractors. All wastewater was captured, filtered, and properly discharged. Once asbestos abatement was complete, the stacks were demolished using a crawler crane and remote-controlled hydraulic processor.

Another key challenge was PCB and lead abatement. Pre-demolition sampling revealed that painted surfaces throughout the main plant contained elevated levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). The IX team removed over 85,000 square feet of PCB and lead-containing paint using ultra-high-pressure water blasting at 30,000 PSI from steel beams, columns, concrete floors, walls, and pedestals.

Environmental responsibility was a key focus throughout the project, with 20,000 gross tons of materials recycled, significantly reducing landfill waste. 18,000 tons of concrete were processed and reused on-site, along with 90,000 tons of imported material for backfilling. The site was restored with 14.5 acres of topsoil and seeding for future use. With 78,000+ man-hours worked and seamless coordination with Colorado Springs Utilities, the Martin Drake Power Plant demolition showcased IX’s expertise, precision, and commitment to sustainable demolition practices.