Travels of Mortimer

Akkerman was fortunate to be high bidder on Mortimer the Sewer Rat at the 12th annual Educational Fund Auction at the 2013 No-Dig Show in March. Since then, he’s been trekking around to various jobsites in Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin and Mexico City, assisting with Akkerman’s anniversary events.

In mid-April, Mortimer oversaw operations at a Lametti & Sons Inc.’s project in Eagan, Minn. An Akkerman GBM was used to provide guidance for its auger bore to pipe ram project, located at the intersection of 494 and Pilot Knob Road. This is the second time that Mortimer visited a Lametti project and it was fun for him to see some of the friends made during his visit in 2009.

Later in April, Mortimer traveled to Mexico City to a Covasa’s project site. They have been using an Akkerman Series II TBM 720 and pump unit for a project that will have installed 3,281 ft of 86-in. OD RCP upon completion for the La Comisión del Agua del Estado de México (CAEM).

On his way back from Mexico, Mortimer visited Super Excavators Inc. (SEI) in the Port of Miami. SEI microtunneled 700 ft of 74-in. OD pipe for the MDWASD on the Government Cut Utility Relocation project. The pipeline relocation took place 40 ft below the sea bed, through fossilized coral, in order to dredge the channel to accommodate larger cargo ships into the port.

Mortimer spent a few months assisting with the preparation for Akkerman’s 40th anniversary celebrations. He visited with community members, customers and staff and their families during this three-day event series.
In late August, Mortimer traveled with an Akkerman field technician to an EJM Pipe Services microtunneling project for the City of Monona, Wis. Mortimer assisted with training crewmembers on microtunneling operations on their third, 240-l ft crossing under Highway 51 with an Akkerman SL 52.5 MTBM skinned to 60-in. OD.

Mortimer will continue his adventures with Akkerman until the 2014 NASTT Education Auction at the 2014 No-Dig Show. Follow him at www.akkerman.com/news-mortimer-travels.php.