Problem / When it was discovered that the 60-inch-diameter stormwater drainage pipe under the South Haven Area Regional Airport’s main runway and taxiway was caving in, a new 300-foot pipeline had to be installed to save the paved area without impacting flight operations. Located near Lake Michigan 20 miles north of Benton Harbor, Michigan, the general aviation municipal airport has an average of 74 flights a day of mostly single-engine aircraft. The main runway is paved and is 4,800 feet long and 75 feet wide. The other is a 3,300 long turf runway. 

Solution / SaniTite HP 48-inch-diameter pipe from Advanced Drainage Systems was sliplined into the old pipe. This smaller diameter would provide the space between the old and new pipe needed for grouting, but because of the new pipe’s smooth inner wall, the water flow would actually be improved. The Federal Aviation Authority permits polypropylene pipe under airfield pavements per Item D-701, Pipe for Storm Drains and Culverts in AC 150/5370-10G (Standards for Specifying Construction of Airports). 

Result / After the pipe was pushed into the old corrugated metal pipe, the space between the old and new pipe was filled using controlled low-strength material flowable fill grout. Grates were attached at each end. The job was done without interrupting runway traffic and completed within the 12 days allotted to the contractor. 800-821-6710; www.adspipe.com

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Problem / The city of Spring Park, Minnesota, was faced with the task of replacing an undersized cast iron water main that serves a lakeside neighborhood. The project took place in a residential area right next to Lake Minnetonka. Soil conditions were very wet with high groundwater levels. Space was one of the biggest challenges working in backyards, many of which abutted the lake. Homeowner and yard disruption also needed to be kept to a minimum. 

Solution / Static pipe bursting was the choice for this project. A Grundoburst 800G static pipe bursting system from TT Technologies was selected to burst and replace the 2,300 feet of 6-inch cast iron water main and upsize it to 10-inch HDPE. Most of the bursting runs were around 300 feet in length. At its closest to the lake, the existing main came within 5 feet of the water’s edge. In three instances during pipe bursting, the product pipe actually needed to be staged, floating in the water.

Result / Total bursting time per run was three to four hours from start to finish, with one bursting run per day. Digging the next pit, getting the machine set for the next run and staging pipe were done in advance of the following day. After the pipe bursting was complete, the main was chlorinated and pressure tested. Then services were installed and everything tied back together. 800-533-2078; www.tttechnologies.com