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phase will focus on three areas: a 5-foot wide by 80-foot long section along the river, a <br />70-foot section along the dam, and a 40-foot section along the race. <br />"Much will be learned during the first-phase excavations to guide the necessary minimum <br />depth of grouting, and to direct additional excavation and grouting in the southernmost 80 <br />feet of the island," said City Engineer Carl Littrell. <br />Once the ground is exposed, crews will inject a 15-foot-deep section with grout as well as <br />increase the density of loose soil and debris to add strength. Finally, they will restore a 5- <br />foot cover of sand before resuming planned renovation work to the island. The work will <br />be completed by Gibson-Lewis along with the Northern Indiana Construction Co. <br />The work is expected to begin Tuesday, July 28 and be completed in about two weeks, <br />without significantly impacting the completion of the overall island renovations. Yet the <br />final "Meet Me on the Island" event on Aug. 7 will proceed inside as renovations <br />continue toward an early September completion date. <br />The island at Century Center is aman-made feature, formed as construction on the dam <br />was begun just before the Civil War. Originally the site of small workshops that used <br />impounded water to drive machinery for industrial production, the island later was used <br />by South Bend Water Works to pump artesian water to pressurize the water distribution <br />system. After the turn of the century, J.D. Oliver built an electric generating plant on the <br />island. The Water Works and power plant facilities were removed to make way for Island <br />Park. <br />Designed by noted architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, Century Center opened <br />Nov. 1, 1977, as South Bend's civic and convention center. Nearly 150,000 people visit <br />annually in more than 500 events, including 21 conventions and trade shows. <br />-30- <br />