Horizontal Directionally Drilled Water Main

The contractor pulled almost 800 feet of pipe yesterday! This water main will connect to the pipe that is going to be pulshed through the steel casing. The contractor has begun on the next section south of this area. Just like before, the reamer will be pushed through the ground to create a tunnel for the water main. Work is really getting under way now! Please remember to be careful and drive slowly through the construction areas.

Water Main Under the RR Tracks

The steel casing under the railroad tracks was completed yesterday. The contractor is going to work tomorrow (Saturday) to install the plastic water main pipe through the casing. All work done tomorrow will be at the RR Tracks, within the contractors fencing. The total length is almost 300 feet. The water main pipe that is installed through this casing will be connected to the rest of the pipe that is being installed by HDD (see post below from April 21…)

Water Main Installation

The augering company began pushing the steel casing under the railroad tracks, pushing from the south to the north. Under the railroad tracks, it is necessary to first install a steel casing, This method actually uses a spiral auger to remove the dirt while pushing in the steel casing to create a tunnel. Then, the 16” PVC (plastic) pipe is pushed through the casing. The remainder of the water main will be installed by a method called Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). In this method, a reamer is used to push a tunnel through the dirt. Then the pipe is pulled through/into this tunnel. The HDD began today as well.

Work Beginning

The contractor will have some people onsite starting on Thursday. Thursday and Friday will involve prep work, including mobilization (bringing the machines in), locating and exposing existing utilities, and evaluating trees (i.e. what trees need protection, what trees need to be trimmed/root pruned, etc.). Digging will begin on Monday or Tuesday on the south side of the railroad tracks for the augering pit. The area from Lindenwood to the tracks will be augered. A steel casing is going to be augered under the railroad tracks, and then the water main pipe will be pushed through that casing.

Contractor has started surveying Pfingsten Road for water and sewer layout. Construction is anticipated to start this month. Village has been out taking photos of areas of flooding and existing conditions. We will be working with the gas company to layout areas for restoration from the gas main and services installation.

We have not yet received a start date from the contractor, but construction should begin mid-April. The contractor’s surveyor will be out next week to begin laying out the new water main.