From the Publisher: Sensational Trenchless Projects of the Year

Traditionally, we present the Projects of the Year in our October issue — so here we are once again! Perhaps, you already learned of the winners from the Webinar we hosted to announce the winners on World Trenchless Day, Sept. 28.

 

Details regarding the winning projects, as well as the runners up and honorable mentions, are presented in this issue. What I will do now is talk about what makes these winning projects so fantastic.

The New Installation project winner was completed in Toronto in the Halton Region. The project was a wastewater main and it was completed using curved microtunneling drive. You may be aware that curved microtunneling in North America is a relatively new phenomenon; whereas it quite popular in Japan and Europe. The winning bidder was Ward & Burke at $42 million (CAD) and the project completed on budget and early. Ward & Burke using Aldea Services, was able to extend some of the drives and reduce the jacking and receiving pits. They installed intermediate jacking stations on the drives but were not used, no doubt, considering they used bentonite and ground swelling suppressive additives in the annulus during mining operations. The longest drive was 2,053 ft (626 m). What was impressive about all of this was the fact that it was mostly rock that they mined through.

RELATED: Project of the Year 2017 New Installation Winner: Rebecca Trunk Wastewater Main

The Rehabilitation project winner was another example of sensational use of trenchless technology. In this case, the project entailed rehabilitating 5,700 ft of a West Palm Beach, Florida, 48-in. force main. This was a Pre-stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) that handled the sewage flow for the entire city of West Palm Beach and the Town of Palm Beach, carrying 70 million gallons a day to the East Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility for some 100,000 residents. Diverting or shutting down the force main was not an option. The 48-in. pipe carried a Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure of 25 psi with a surge pressure of 35 psi. The result was the first pipeline rehabilitation project to use fiber-reinforced CIPP, considering this pressure, diameter and length. Aegion’s Insituform Technologies was the contractor. Considering the nature of the communities involved, this was a very sensitive project. Golf course, dozens of backyards, middle school, etc., were all sensitive surfaces that had to be considered. There was also a very strict homeowners’ association. Notably, Insituform worked with a public relations firm to keep the community updated on the project’s status.

As is so often, we hear the phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind.” The trenchless industry needs to focus on how to promote the many favorable aspects of trenchless technology. Kudos to Insituform.

RELATED: Project of the Year 2017 Rehabilitation Winner: West Palm Beach Force Main Rehabilitation

Although there were many others involved in completing these projects, contractors Ward & Burke and Insituform Technologies are to be commended for their amazing work. Formal recognition of all of the Project of the Year winners will take place at the Opening Breakfast at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Palm Springs, California on March 26. The Opening Breakfast is a great way for the No-Dig Show to kick off every year, so I certainly hope you will be there!

Our November issue will feature U.S. and Canadian military veterans. Those veterans are working in the trenchless industry are just a few of the many men and women who have protected our freedom. So be sure to say “Thank You” to them whenever you can.

RELATED: Honoring Veterans in the Trenchless Industry

Congrats to the winners!

Bernard P. Krzys