Garney Construction, Dewberry Engineers complete “record-breaking” trenchless crossing of James River
(UI) – The Design-Build team of Garney Construction and Dewberry Engineers was hired by the Hampton Roads Sewer District to design and construct a force main crossing the James River in Newport News, Virginia. Brierley Associates, serving as geotechnical specialists, assisted during the trenchless operation.
On May 2, 2024, the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was successfully completed beneath the Newport News Shipping Channel after almost 24 hours over two days of continuous pipe pullback operations.
The process started early on May 1 with tugs towing 5700 ft of fused 42-in HDPE pipe across the James River. The pipe was then positioned on a pipe handling barge and pulled to the pipe pusher assembly above a 66-inch steel casing pipe.
Initial testing involved advancing about 150 ft of the pipe into the casing and using river water for ballasting, monitored to ensure the pipe remained filled.
The pullback operations began with the pipe advanced in 31-ft sections, descending to -160 ft, before ascending back to the surface.
Brierley's Jim Williams monitored the pullback loads to ensure they matched the design calculations. By 8 pm on May 2, the trenchless project was completed as the barrel reamer emerged onshore in Newport News, setting a world record for the HDD at 5614 linear ft.
This story was originally reported by Brierley Associates.
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