BHATE Geosciences Corporation SUE Investigation: ALDOT Central - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BHATE Geosciences Corporation

SUE Investigation: ALDOT Central Business District Bridge Replacement on I-59/I-20 from I-65 to 31st St

Project Number: IM-1059

October 29, 2014

ALDOT - Central Business District

I-59/I-20 from I-65 to 31st Street Birmingham, Alabama

CBD Project Summary

• ALDOT is planning bridges along Interstate 59/20

through the City of Birmingham’s Central Business District (CBD).

• As part of the restructuring and rerouting and proposed

new construction, detailed information on subsurface utilities was required for the planning and design.

• The work includes approximately 1.5 miles of roadway

and bridge widening on I-59/I-20 and I-65

• Approximately 32 new bridges/ramps/bridge widening
• Additionally, improvements to the I-59/20/31st Street

North interchange, and the I-59/20.US 31(Red Mountain Expressway) interchange are planned.

Utility Verification Prior to Borings

• Geotechnical drilling included nearly 500 boring

locations performed by multiple consultants

• CBD is a highly urbanized and developed area

(since late 1800’s) with multitude of utilities. It was necessary to verify that the proposed boring locations were free of subsurface high value utilities

• This area consisted of gas, telephone, fiber-optic

cables and other sensitive targets that could be significantly disrupted and impacted in case of damage during field exploration.

CBD Boring Locations



BHATE provided pre-drilling SUE services to locate the utilities and clear boring locations to manage subsurface conflicts and reduce risk of potential damage.



Approximately 500 boring locations scanned



Nearly 20% of the borings were impacted by subsurface utilities and had to be shifted.

O R O O R R

CBD Boring Locations

 Used geophysical methods to clear safe boring

locations

• Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
• Cable and pipe locators
• Note: Differences noted at numerous locations

between actual and One Call marked utilities.

 After scanning and relocation of the borings

where conflicts were indicated, 100% of scanned borings were safely drilled.

 Considerable potential cost savings in regards to

interruptions in service and/or utility repair had this scanning not been done prior to commencing

• drilling. Information from available records and

One-Call could not be completely relied upon.

ALDOT Phase Prioritization

 Phase I: 31st Street North and 12th Avenue North  Phase 2: I-59/I-20 and I-65 Interchange  Phase 3: 12th Court North  Phase 4: CBD Interchange Ramps  Phase 5: CBD Bridge Demo and Replacement

Why SUE???

 Preconstruction Planning

• Utility-related problems are a leading cause of delays

that occur during the construction phase of highway projects (FHWA-IF-02-048)

 Cost Management

• For small fraction of total construction costs, initial SUE

investigation can save significant costs caused by delays, repairs, change orders etc.

 Utilities management

• Accurately determine existing utilities and as-built

conditions and depths

• Address conflicts during design stage
• Replace/relocate discussions with utility companies

prior to final design completion

 Avoid risks

• Damage to utilities
• Repairs
• Disruptions in service

 Safety

ALDOT SUE Objectives

 “ALDOT realizes utility identification, relocation

and management is critical information for project design and to give to the contractor”

 Want nothing to slow or disrupt progress  Can’t stand any surprises!  “That is why ALDOT is going through this effort

and have seen significant value in the SUE process for the CBD project”

• Mr. Steve Walker, P.E. ROW- Engineer

Procedure for Accomplishing Field Work General Outline

 Four (4) main utility data quality levels established

by American Society of Civil Engineers' Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data – ASCE 38-02

 Provides a means of obtaining a professional

• pinion of the quality and reliability of utility

information

 Utility Quality Levels

• QL-D
• QL-C
• QL-B
• QL-A

Procedure for Accomplishing CBD Field Work

 Records Research- QL-D – First Step

• Gather and review available drawings and
• records. Included historical archives going

back to late 1800’s.

• Obtain available as-built information from

Utilities, Alabama Gas, Alabama Power, Birmingham Waterworks etc.

• Preliminary assessment of the types of

utilities present in the area and their likely location and depth.

• ATT will not provide information – only

confirm if there is a conflict with a proposed construction activity

 Field Observation- QL-C – Second Step

• Visually inspect available surface

indicators

• Verify approximate depth and alignment
• f utilities present based on surface

features

 Geophysical Investigation- QL-B

• Application of surface geophysical methods to

determine the existence and position of utilities.

• Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
• Ferromagnetic Locators
• RD 7000 cable and pipe locators
• One Call locating services are also used.

However, we often find discrepancies in lines located by these agencies and actual field conditions.

SUE Level B Field Work

This included in-situ verification of utilities using GPR and other NDT methods

SUE ‘Level B’ Field Equipment

 Ground-Penetrating Radar– multiple SIR 3000 utility carts by GSSI. Multiple antenna frequencies available.  Multi-channel GPR system - a 14-channel- cart-based ground penetrating radar unit that is typically towed behind a vehicle during survey operations.  Optical Equipment- using visible light as an electromagnetic method. For example, using a laser through a pipe from one vault to another. FLIR ThermaCAM EX320 infrared cameras  RD7000 cable and pipe locators and Tx transmitter - induces a frequency into a buried pipe or cable and allows the user trace out the alignment of the utility on the ground surface  Ferro magnetic locators- locating and pinpointing buried metal objects such as manholes and metallic pipes

 Actual Exposure- QL-A

 This level was implemented in limited areas where

Level B information was limited and high risk underground utilities required in-place exposure and verification of type and depths.

• Highest level of accuracy available
• Nondestructive exposure of underground utilities
• Employed

minimally intrusive excavation equipment (vacuum extraction) to minimize the potential for utility damage

• Type, size, depth, and location of utilities were

recorded and used to verify provided information

• Depth of exposure ranged from 3’ to 5’

Level ‘A’ Field Work

SUE Process Workflow

CBD Bridge Demolition and Replacement

• I-59/I-20 and I-65 Interchange - Findings

Site Specific Findings

I-59/I-20 and I-65 Interchange

 Records Review QL-D - Sanborn Maps

and other sources revealed:

• Oil Refinery
• Dry Cleaners
• Birmingham Electric Co.

 Foundry, Machine Shop, Storage Yard  10-15 Tanks were identified  Multitude of old utilities – it was

unknown which utilities were abandoned.

Site Specific Findings

I-59/I-20 and I-65 Interchange



QL-D and QL-C investigation uncovered numerous inconsistencies.



Utility records from Alabama Power, Jefferson County Environmental Services and Water Works did not match in- field conditions. Manhole covers not found in the field but present on the utility records.



Information on abandoned and active utilities was not clearly documented and would require further verification.



Utilities marked in the field by One-Call were not consistent with the records provided by utilities.



Level B SUE work is pending and will be implemented in this area and supplemented by Level A, as necessary.

CBD Bridge Demolition and Replacement

• 23rd Street to 31st Street North Section -

Findings

Site Specific Findings

23rd Street to 31st Street North

 QL-D and QL-C also uncovered discrepancies

• Historical records as well as Sanborn maps indicated
• ld gas stations, a railroad yard with multiple tracks

etc.

• Utility records and surface features indicated that

the drawings provided by utility companies did not accurately reflect in-ground conditions.

Site Specific Findings

23rd Street to 31st Street North

 QL-B investigation was performed to verify the location

• f buried utilities beneath proposed CBD bridge

alignment

• Identified locations of buried railroad tracks. These

were covered up by existing pavement with no visible signs on the surface.

• The entire area was mapped in detail at each
• intersection. Numerous undocumented underground

utilities were found.

• Discrepancies between utility drawings and actual

locations were resolved. Conflicts between actually existing utilities and proposed construction were identified.

CBD Bridge Demolition and Replacement

 9th Ave from 15th St to 23rd St – Findings

Site Specific Findings

9th Ave from 15th St to 23rd St

 QL-D and QL-C investigation revealed various discrepancies.

• Utility records and as built drawings of sewer, electrical, water,

gas, steam, etc., were inconsistent with in-field surface indicators.

 QL-B investigation was performed to verify the location of

buried utilities beneath the proposed CBD bridge alignment

• The entire area of interest was mapped in detail. Numerous

underground utilities were verified at each intersection and right of way.

• Conflicts between actually existing utilities and proposed

construction were identified.

Site Specific Findings

9th Ave from 15th St to 23rd St

 QL-A was performed on a 115 KV oil-cooled electrical

transmission line and 30 inch main water line

 Actual location, depth, material and condition was

verified for the proposed CBD construction plans.

 Further QL-A was needed and currently in progress

along 9th Ave. N

QL-A Along 9th Avenue North

Data Management Procedure

 Upon completion of QL-B and QL-A, Volkert surveyed the

alignment and depth of target utilities identified and marked in the field by BHATE. Deliverables included the following:

• Plan/Profile sheets and Cross Sections showing utility

locations.

• Depict information using ALDOT CADD Standards and Plan

Preparation Manual.

• Developed a conflict matrix showing all possible known utility

conflicts with the proposed construction.

 The findings are reviewed with ALDOT for Impact Assessment.  Areas selected for further exploration using Level A assessment.

Summary

 BHATE mapped the location of utilities using a

combination

• f

provided drawings from utility companies and historical research.

 Compared the results of the subsurface utility survey to

the field features and drawings to validate the available information and resolve differences in the information from QL-D, QL-C and QL-B.

 When necessary, conducted additional searches and

performed field operations to clear discrepancies between records and subsurface survey.

 When necessary, exposed selected subsurface utilities

to obtain three-dimensional information using minimally invasive methods. QL-A. Resolve discrepancies and update drawings.

 The SUE process implemented for the CBD project

revealed information that was undocumented

• r

unknown and will now significantly aid in the final design, conflict resolution with underground utilities or remnants from other developments in this area over the past 100+ years.

BHATE Team on the CBD SUE Project

 Uday R. Bhate, P.E., Senior Principal  Marc Langlois, P.G., Senior SUE Manager  Jeremiah Bishop, M.S., Project Manager  Jordan Middleton, B.S.C.E., Manager Field Services  Chuck Grostick, B.S., Certified Senior GPR/SUE Technician  Sarah Samples, Project Information Coordinator

SUE Resources and Reference Documents

 FHWA-Utility Relocation and Accommodation on

Federal-Aid Highway Projects- January 2003

• Provides Guidelines and Basis for:

 Utility Accommodation  Utility Relocations, Adjustments and Reimbursements  Communication of Utility Data  Risk and Impact Analysis  Cost Estimate Procedures  Other Issues

 ASCE Standard CI/ASCE 38-02

• Quality Levels in Subsurface Utility Engineering as a

Basis for:

• Accurate Knowledge of Horizontal and Vertical Location
• Data Management and Depiction of Utilities on

Construction Plans Prior to Excavation

• Design Around Underground Utilities to Avoid Costly

Relocations

 ALDOT Utilities Manual

QUESTIONS???