OUR BLOG: INSIDE THE LIFT

6Feb 2014

Manhole Structure Repair

By uretekhr

Transfield Services, a Florida Department of Transportation contractor, contacted URETEK Holdings to seal the joints and stabilize the soil surrounding the structure for a manhole cover that had settled almost 12 inches due to inflow and infiltration.

Manhole in median of Barrancas Avenue and Manchester Street
Manhole in median of Barrancas Avenue and Manchester Street

The project challenges included total pipe to structure joint failure and high water flow in the pipes.  Consequently, other methods had failed, but URETEK was up for the challenge.

URETEK’s solution was to inject the URETEK polymer directly through the base of the structure and invert of RCP to seal and stop the soil mitigation.

Another angle of construction area
Another angle of construction area

URETEK’s business development manager, Tommy Russum,  started the process by designing injection port quantities and depths in conjunction with the Transfield Services’ engineer. Before work started, everyone attended a pre-construction meeting to go over the the scope and plan for the project.

Since this was a highly traveled intersection at Barrancas Avenue and Manchester Street in Pensacola, Florida, the on-site installation was completed at 2:00 am.  In order to gain access to the injection sites in the structure, the pipes had to be dewatered and plugged. The technicians also wore safety harnesses while working in the hole.

Technician is in the manhole attached to a safety harnass
Technician is in the manhole attached to a safety harnass

The outcome:  URETEK was able to stabilize the soil that supported the structure and seal all of the pipe-to-structure joints, preventing further erosion and settlement.  The work was completed in one night and the lane was once again reopened to traffic.