There are about 20 Volvo units on the site, including EC250, EC380D and E-series excavators, a L110F and L250F, G-series wheel loaders and A35FFS and A40FFS full suspension articulated haulers.

Volvo Construction Equipment Is Helping to Construct the Larvik and Matineå Tunnels in Norway, Linking the Towns of Bommestad and Sky

Famous for its fjords, vast supply of oil and being a great place to watch the Aurora Borealis, Norway also has an impressive network of tunnels. Close to Larvik in the Vestfold County, around 80 km south of Drammen, two tunnels are currently under construction as part of a state-funded infrastructure development program. The project, which began earlier this year, comprises 7 km of four-lane highway – part of the E18 major route – linking the towns of Bommestad and Sky. This includes the new Larvik and Matineå tunnels, which will span 2.8 and 1.3 km, respectively.

Worth 1.56 billion Norwegian crowns ($236 million U.S.), this project was awarded to Skanska Norway, the second largest construction company in the country. Running along the edge of Larvik, the road will cross the new 570-m long Ferris suspension bridge, which will span the southern end of Ferris Lake.

Two Volvo Construction Equipment EW230C-Series wheeled excavators, modified for this specific project, are working in the Larvik tunnel section. The local dealer, Volvo Maskin AS is working with CeDe Group AB in Malmö, Sweden – an official partner to Volvo to supply special application underground solutions – ensuring the machines were ready for tunneling operation.

These units are equipped with a hydraulic elevating and tilting cab, raising the cab 2.4 m with a maximum tilt angle of 30 degrees – a feature allowing operators to get close to where they are working with no natural daylight. Efficient Xenon and customized LED lights aid visibility in the tunnel.

An air compressor unit, activated by the hydraulic breaker, is fitted to blow clean air around the breaker, preventing ingress of dust and an upper structure-mounted 50-m hose reel feeds through constant water to reduce dust and improve visibility. With full consideration to the environment, the water used during operations every day is pumped into large holding tanks situated close to the tunnel exit, where the water is then treated for re-use.

Bolt-on, heavy-duty rubber guards protect the boom and dipper cylinders against damage from falling stones. The front screen features 6.8-mm thick safety glass with additional certified front screen protection, and the engine compartment is equipped with a fire suppression system and central lubrication for increased safety.

Mucking Operations

Once a section of tunnel has been blasted, Volvo wheel loaders form part of a load handling team before a EW230C wheeled excavator equipped with a bucket cleans up. The second machine, equipped with a breaker, will be handling stripping operations at the other end of the tunnel. To ensure operator and equipment safety, rock bolts are inserted at multiple points to secure the roof structure.

A specially equipped Volvo EC250DL is also working in Larvik, drilling the rock face alongside the existing road to prepare for blasting. This is where the road will be lowered to the tunnel exit – a short distance from where the new bridge will be constructed.

Volvo Maskin and CeDe Group modified the EC250DL to feature safety glass for both the front screen and the roof, with an additional roof wiper blade, boom suspension, a swing dampening system, plus additional LED lights. The drilling rig was then mounted by Norwegian company AMV, including the hydraulics and electrics for the motion control.

Minimal Traffic Disruption

Traffic flow continues and is only disturbed two to three times a day when the rock is blasted. Though small blasts, handling 50-70 m³ each time, heavy rubber protective mats are positioned over the rock to safeguard against flying debris.

“The average drill hole is 1.5- 2 m deep,” says Mads Bakken, equipment manager on site. “This rig can handle around 300 m a day. The attachment can drill to a depth of 10 m in automatic mode or even deeper in manual mode. The machine is perfect for the job, offering both high and long reach and we can use it on other projects too.”

The attachment can be rotated through 180 degrees, but versatility is increased with a second coupler bracket mounted to the side of the attachment, enabling both drilling horizontally and vertically when installing rock bolts to stabilize the rock face.

“I like the Volvo,” says Ger Egil, machine operator. “I appreciate the space in the cab and low noise, but I especially like the elevating cab as I can get really close to where I am drilling.” He also explained how the entire operation can be handled via remote control depending on the working conditions.

There are about 20 Volvo units on the site, including EC250, EC380D and E-series excavators, a L110F and L250F, G-series wheel loaders and A35FFS and A40FFS full suspension articulated haulers. The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.

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The Hobas national sales team made the National Sales Conference a total success.

Hobas Pipe USA, a leader in the large diameter municipal fiberglass pipe market, held its Annual Sales Conference in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 17, 2014. The meeting of division and area managers from around the country was held at the Hilton Houston North.

“The goal of the event was to identify a clear strategy for moving forward in this increasingly competitive market,” said Larry Johnson, vice president, sales, Hobas Pipe USA. “I want to commend the Hobas sales team for their hard work, professionalism and continued motivation during the difficult economic conditions.”

After more than 50 years of reliable service around the world, the use of Hobas pipe is expanding faster than ever. Pipe diameters range from 18 to 126 in. for both pressure and gravity applications. Hobas Pipe USA has earned ISO 14001 certification representing the core set of standards for environmental performance, marking the company’s dedication to environmentally friendly green practices.

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Terese Kwiatkowski

GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., a leading environmental and geotechnical consulting firm, announced that Terese Kwiatkowski of Norwood, Massachusetts, has been promoted to Senior Principal. Kwiatkowski, with GZA for 29 years, holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. She currently sits on GZA’s Board of Directors.

Kwiatkowski is a geotechnical engineer specializing in large transportation infrastructure projects; building development projects for colleges/universities, medical institutions and commercial, retail and residential developments; and energy transmission projects. She is active in numerous local and national engineering societies and served as the president of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers (BSCES) and chair of the Geotechnical Institute Committee. She is also currently a member of the Underground Construction Association of SME.

Kwiatkowski has co-authored or authored articles for several industry publications and has presented at universities and GZA internal conferences.

“Terese throughout her career has been a pillar of professionalism and technical excellence. She is a visible leader in the engineering community and has made many significant contributions to GZA’s success. We are very pleased to announce her promotion,” said William Hadge, President and CEO of GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc.

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Dan Ifrim

The North American engineering company Hatch Mott MacDonald has announced that Dan Ifrim has joined the company as a Senior Project Manager based in Mississauga, Ontario.

Ifrim comes to HMM after 30 years of tunneling experience in the United States, Canada and overseas. He has provided project administration, technical leadership and other skills on projects including Metro Istanbul in Turkey, the Grand San Bernardo Service Tunnel in Switzerland, the Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel in Akron, and the Bathurst Watermain, Spadina Subway Extension, and Kennedy Station Redevelopment in Toronto.

“Dan combines in-depth tunnel boring expertise with top-notch project management and negotiation skills,” said Nicholas DeNichilo, President and CEO of HMM. “We are delighted to welcome him to the company.”

Ifrim’s publications include “TBM Procurement Aspects” and “Tunnel Boring Machines, History and Trends in Canada.” He is a member of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, Professional Engineers Ontario, Tunnelling Association of Canada, and the Underground Construction Association of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

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TBM Ellie breaks through in Victoria Dock Portal in October 2014.

Crossrail’s train tunnels in Docklands and southeast London are now structurally complete, following the breakthrough by tunnel machine Ellie at Victoria Dock Portal in east London.

Also announced on Oct. 20, tunnel machine Elizabeth has started the final push west from Whitechapel that will see her and sister machine Victoria complete Crossrail’s train tunnels at Farringdon next year.

Tunnel machine Ellie had one of Crossrail’s shortest but most complex drives, 900 m from Limmo Peninsula, near Canning Town, to Victoria Dock Portal. Ellie successfully navigated the Docklands Light Railway, Jubilee line and utilities, all in close proximity to the River Thames and River Lea. She completes a set of Crossrail tunnels in east and southeast London that stretch from Plumstead to Whitechapel, with an additional spur between Stepney Green and Stratford.

It is Ellie’s second drive, having already completed a 2.7-km stretch from Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green. She will now be dismantled and returned to manufacturer Herrenknecht, with the parts recycled for future projects.

Simon Wright, Crossrail’s Program Director said: “The end is in sight for Crossrail’s tunneling marathon. Having successfully delivered all bored tunnels west of Farringdon and east of Whitechapel, we now begin the final push to complete tunneling at Farringdon next year. The next challenge is to fit out the tunnels and stations with systems to run Crossrail trains through central London in 2018.”

Tunnel machine Elizabeth is 60% through Crossrail’s longest drive, a distance of 8.3 km from Limmo to Farringdon. She has already successfully negotiated Canary Wharf Crossrail station and Stepney Green cavern, before waiting in Whitechapel ahead of the completion of a shaft beneath Durward Street. The drive to Farringdon will reach the deepest point on the Crossrail route, approximately 40 m beneath street level near the Barbican in the City of London.

Each of Crossrail’s eight tunnel boring machines weighs 1,000 tonnes, is up to 150 m long and 7.1 m in diameter. They are staffed by teams of 20 working around the clock. Crossrail’s eastern tunnels are built by Dragados Sisk JV.

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San Francisco–based engineering and consulting firm Jacobs Associates and Boise-based engineering and construction firm McMillen LLC announced on Oct. 24 that the two firms intend to merge. McMillen Jacobs Associates will have a staff of 380, working out of 19 offices across North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Jacobs Associates President Dan Adams states: “Since first sitting down to discuss a possible merger, we found our core values and company cultures are very similar and compatible. Both firms emphasize technical excellence and client relationships. We each have a high level of engineering and management expertise and complement one another well. Unifying our businesses and beliefs will allow us to better serve our clients and provide expanded opportunities for our employees, particularly in the design‐build arena.”

“We have always believed it’s about putting our clients first, not about getting bigger,” explains McMillen President Mara McMillen. “By merging with Jacobs Associates, we can now offer expanded technical capabilities from staff we highly respect. The merger also enables us to geographically expand our self‐performing construction group. One integrated company increases our employees’ opportunities to build their careers in a broader range of disciplines and to become stockholders in the company.”

Jacobs Associates has focused primarily on detailed design and construction engineering in the heavy civil underground market since it started doing business in 1954. Merging with McMillen LLC helps Jacobs Associates achieve three of its strategic initiatives: growing construction management, redefining how design‐build is delivered, and diversifying beyond tunnels. McMillen LLC, which was founded in 2004, is an environmental, engineering, and heavy civil self‐performing construction firm with close ties to the hydroelectric infrastructure and water resources industries. Merging with Jacobs Associates will expand McMillen’s geographical reach as well as strengthen its engineering capabilities in rock mechanics, grouting, and underground structures.

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AECOM announced on Oct. 17 that the company has completed its acquisition of URS Corp. with broad support from stakeholders following approval of the merger agreement by URS’ stockholders and the stock issuance proposal by AECOM’s stockholders at each company’s respective special stockholder meetings held on Oct. 16, 2014.

Each share of URS common stock will be exchanged in the merger for per-share consideration of either $53.991 in cash or 1.8879 shares of AECOM common stock, at the election of the holder, and only non-electing holders will receive a combination of cash and stock as provided for in the merger agreement.

“Today is an exciting and historic day – for our industry, for AECOM and URS, and for our nearly 100,000 people around the world who are serving our clients in over 150 countries,” said Michael S. Burke, AECOM chief executive officer. “Beyond the compelling benefits that this transaction creates for our combined clients, stockholders and employees, the combination of AECOM and URS dramatically accelerates our strategy of creating an integrated delivery platform with superior capabilities to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world.”

The acquisition further diversifies and broadens AECOM’s market presence, as URS brings strong sector expertise in important end markets, including oil and gas, power and government services. URS also adds to AECOM’s construction capabilities, deepening a core competency that AECOM will be able to leverage across its global platform.

“During the past three months, as we have advanced our integration planning efforts, my belief that AECOM and URS had highly complementary operations and cultures has been solidly confirmed,” Burke said. “Our leaders have collaborated to develop a comprehensive integration plan that will leverage our greater scale across our global platform. We are confident that we will achieve our target of $250 million in annual cost synergies.”

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Blastcrete Equipment Co. has introduced the Mine Mate, an innovative machine designed to mix and pump concrete material for underground mine sealing and stabilization, grouting, and various other shotcrete applications. The Mine Mate enhances safety in underground mining and tunneling applications, and is a convenient solution when ready-mix concrete is not an option.

Featuring Blastcrete’s X-10 ultra-high pressure swing tube pump, the Mine Mate is a highly productive and reliable machine that’s also easy to operate and maintain.

Created at the request of several customers seeking a machine to apply shotcrete in underground coal applications, the Mine Mate was developed, and utilizes the wet-mix shotcrete process. In contrast to the dry shotcrete (gunite), the wet shotcrete process minimizes dust emissions and improves visibility making it much safer, particularly for underground use. Featuring a compact and extremely low-profile configuration, the Mine Mate is designed for operation within a 4-ft ceiling.

The Mine Mate includes Blastcrete’s X-10 3-in., high-pressure swing tube pump, and a high-shear continuous mixer. The unit is capable of mixing and pumping 12 cu yd per hour, and can handle aggregate up to 3/8-in. diameter. Offering the highest piston face pressure in the industry at 2,200 psi, it can pump material in excess of 500 ft, horizontally and vertically. Additionally, the hydraulic pump can run in reverse to eliminate line pressure from the delivery line should a hose plug. This is a very important safety feature in any pumping operation.

Unlike competitive swing tube pumps, the X-10 provides easy access for cleaning and maintenance. The receiving hopper of the pump is mounted with a heavy-duty hinge so that it can easily swing away from the swing tube section. The flat pack is held in place by four heavy-duty bolts so that the spare flat pack can quickly and easily be replaced. This assures that downtime will be minimized. An optional hydraulic pressure washer is available for quick and easy cleaning of the mixer and the pump.

Available power options include a V3600, 66-hp Kubota water-cooled diesel engine or 50-hp electric motor with starter and disconnect. The machine can also be equipped with a material screw conveyor, with bin indicator for charging the continuous mixer.

The Mine Mate’s X-10 is CE Certified, meeting European Union safety standards for equipment operation, and the entire unit is backed worldwide by Blastcrete’s unmatched customer service and support. To accommodate even the most unique and challenging underground applications, Blastcrete offers the option to customize the machine to suit any end-user’s specific needs.

Blastcrete Equipment Co. has been manufacturing safe, reliable and user-friendly solutions for the refractory and shotcrete industries for 63 years. With its complete product line of concrete mixers, pumps and related products, Blastcrete is poised to meet the needs of the commercial and residential construction, ICF and SCIP building systems, refractory and underground markets.

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Brokk remote-controlled demolition equipment brings Goliath-sized drilling power in a David-sized package for mining, demolition and tunneling applications with the latest TE160 hydraulic drifter rock drill from TEI Rock Drills.

When paired with the Brokk 100 or Brokk 160, the new drill attachment is far superior to the alternative for drilling in cramped spaces, jackleg drills. The Brokk/TEI combination eliminates fatigue caused by operating the heavy handheld tools, improves overall drilling accuracy and promotes safety by allowing operators to stand farther away from the drilling site.

“Heavy jackleg drills are difficult to move and can quickly wear out the operator. With the Brokk machine and this drill head, they won’t tire so easily,” said Peter Bigwood, vice president of sales and marketing at Brokk. “Instead, they can run powerful drilling equipment in tunnels, mines and demolition sites for longer and from safe distances.”

When miners use jackleg drills for drilling 1 5/8-in. diameter holes for blasting, for example, they stand within 3 ft of the working surface, which puts them at risk of being hit by water-propelled fractured rocks or falling debris. They also have to strain against jackleg drills for long periods of time, and the exertion can lead to injuries and inaccurately drilled holes. With a Brokk machine and the TE160 attachment, they can consistently drill to 20-ft depths while standing well out of harm’s way.

Operators can take the 45-in. tall Brokk 100 units into areas with 6-ft height clearances, which make them great for workspaces with little headroom. In addition, when the arms and stabilizer legs are folded in, the Brokk 100 is less than 31 in. wide, narrow enough to fit through doorways or onto elevators at demolition sites.

At just under 26 in. long, the TE160 is the smallest drill attachment from TEI, yet it packs a punch. The TE160 delivers 35 to 60 ft-lbs of impact energy at 5,000 to 6,500 blows per minute. The drill also produces 100 ft-lbs of torque and reaches rotation speeds of up to 250 rpm, which makes it an accurate and faster alternative to jackleg drilling through brick, concrete and rock.

In addition to enhancing safety, power and speed, the new drill attachment complements other Brokk attachments to make the Brokk machines more versatile. For example, demolition crews can use the Brokk 100 or Brokk 160 with the TEI attachment to bore 2-in. diameter holes for splitter or cracking agents in non-explosive demolition applications. They can then quickly switch out the drill for a hydraulic breaker, shear or bucket to size and remove debris.

The hydraulic TE160 drill attachment is also quieter than pneumatic handheld alternatives. This allows construction crews to use the equipment in locations where noise-control ordinances are in effect, such as in and around apartment buildings and high-rise towers.

Brokk also makes the new drill easy to handle by integrating its controls into the Brokk machines’ control systems. “Operators can control the Brokk and the TEI drill with a single control rather than one for the machine and one for the attachment,” Bigwood said. “This makes the Brokk and drill combination more convenient and practical, and also frees up an extra worker who normally would be required to operate the second control.”

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Nicholson Construction’s Denver office has had a busy summer supporting the University of Colorado Boulder’s ongoing athletic complex expansion project. The $156 million effort at the university includes the refurbishing of the Dal Ward Athletic Center, the addition of a new indoor practice facility and an addition to Folsom Field, which includes new seating areas.

Nicholson’s work includes a permanent earth retention system to complete the large excavation for the construction of the indoor practice football field and running track, as well as two levels of underground parking. The project also includes the construction of new football operations offices and a new weight room.

Nicholson began work in May 2014 on the temporary and permanent earth retention system with soil nail and shotcrete walls for the project, with approximately 250 linear wall feet being constructed as a cantilevered drilled shaft and shotcrete wall. An additional 260 feet were constructed as a cantilevered soldier beam and wood lagging wall.

The maximum wall height for the earth retention systems within the indoor practice facility and parking garage is approximately 50 feet. Nicholson has since completed approximately 16,000 square feet of the 68,000 square feet necessary to excavate the site.

The general contractor for the project is Mortenson Construction, which is currently ranked as the second largest sports builder in the United States. Nicholson has also performed work at stadiums across the country, including Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, and most recently, Michigan State’s Spartan Stadium.

“For Nicholson’s CU alumni, it’s pretty special to be on the construction team,” said Cary Lange, Regional Manager for Nicholson Construction. “This is a great project for the university and for the community, and we’re really proud to be part of it.”

Nicholson will complete the project in February 2015 on the current construction schedule. The overall project is set to be completed in fall 2015.

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Derrick Equipment Co. (Derrick), a leading provider of solids control equipment, announced its partnership with Clean Slurry Technology (CST). This partnership positions CST as the exclusive U.S. Civil Distributor for Derrick’s premium line of solids control products to the underground construction industry.

CST maintains a fleet of Derrick equipment for sale and rental out of its Bakersfield, California, location. CTS’s inventory of Derrick solutions includes Flo-Line Primers, High “G” Linear Motion Shakers, High Speed Decanting Centrifuges, various size separation plants along with a parts, and screen panel inventory. CST offers full service solid separation system design, set-up, and operation supported by a team of fully trained technical and service personnel. The company provides additional services such as mud engineering, polymer selection testing, and polymer dosing system design – all of which are tailored to the specific needs of the project. CST has plans to expand its national presence by adding an East Coast facility in the near future.

Derrick, a family-owned company founded in 1951, has a 25-year history of offering premium solids control products to the worldwide microtunneling, horizontal directional drilling, large-diameter tunneling, slurry wall/foundation drilling, water well drilling, and various other underground construction industries. All Derrick machines, screen panels, and tanks systems are manufactured in-house at the Buffalo, New York, headquarters facility.

For information, contact Ben Clark, Derrick Equipment Company (p: 866-337-7425, em: bhclark@derrick.com), or Barry Sorteberg, Clean Slurry Technology (p: 661-332-9480, em: bsorteberg@cleanslurrytechnology.com).

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CINTEC America will supply a new anchoring system for the overhead glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels for the NYC MTA subway station retrofit project.

CINTEC America, a world leader in the field of structural masonry retrofit strengthening, repair, and preservation, announced that after extensive site testing and evaluation it will supply a new anchoring system for the overhead glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels for the NYC MTA subway station retrofit project for station platforms at 168th station and 181st station.

The NYC MTA subway station retrofit project, due to be completed by the end of 2014, is aimed at providing overhead support for the GRFC panels used for the underground suspended dome ceiling. Live on site testing validated the strength and effectiveness of the anchors, which now support the over 2,000-lb ceiling panels firmly in place.

The system works by pre-drilling an oversized hole in the structure and inserting an anchor body surrounded by a fabric sock. The structural anchor is designed specifically for the loads and configuration of each application. CINTEC designs anchors that are non-corrosive metal, typically stainless steel in various grades.

“Our anchors are the only ones being used to attach all overhead panels in these pedestrian platform areas,” General Manager Mike Ferrell said. “Safety is the key here and we are glad to assist the NYC MTA in that mission.”

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Moles Awards

Timothy Barnard, Chairman of the Board of Barnard Cos.

Timothy Barnard, Chairman of the Board of Barnard Cos., Bozeman, Montana, and Raymond R. Oneglia, Vice Chairman of O&G Industries, Torrington, Connecticut, have been selected for top honors by The Moles, one of the industry’s foremost construction organizations. The awards will be presented at The Moles’ Annual Award Dinner at the New York Hilton Hotel, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. Barnard will receive the Moles Non-Member Award, and Oneglia will accept The Moles Member Award.

Starting his construction company in 1975, Barnard’s work ethic has allowed his original earthmoving and utility pipeline enterprise to expand significantly into a multi-million dollar heavy civil contractor that ranks 193rd among Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 U.S. Contractors. Barnard Cos. specializes in risky, remote, complex projects. Barnard is currently serving as the managing partner of a joint venture with Impregilo and S.A. Healy for the construction of the $233 million twin TBM tunnel Central Subway project in San Francisco. Barnard studied at Villanova University and Gonzaga University and received an Honorary Doctorate, Lifetime Contributions to Education & Community, from Montana State University in 2011. He has served on the Gonzaga University Board of Trustees since 2000, and received its Gonzaga Distinguished Alumni Merit Award in 2004.

Raymond R. Oneglia, Vice Chairman of O&G Industries

Oneglia earned his bachelor’s degree from Union College in 1970, and promptly returned to the family’s construction company, O&G Industries, where he began working in his teens. Spending the first 10 years as general superintendent overseeing all of the company’s field operations, Oneglia became immersed in all aspects of the company’s operation. He was instrumental in the acquisition and development of several quarries and material yards that have made O&G Industries one of the most diversified construction companies in the Northeast and a premier supplier of construction materials throughout the state of Connecticut. Oneglia proved successful in building relationships, enabling O&G to partner with West Coast construction companies Perini Corp. and Tutor-Saliba on several major projects on the national stage. In 2000, Oneglia became a member on the Tutor-Perini Board of Directors. Oneglia is a past President and past Trustee of The Moles; past Board Member of the Beavers; and past President of the Connecticut Road Builders Association.

Beavers Awards

Robert E. Alger, 2014 President of the Beavers, has announced the recipients of the 2015 Golden Beaver Awards, which will be presented at the organization’s 60th Annual Awards Dinner to be held Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at the J. W. Marriott at LA Live in Los Angeles.

Richard S. Weeks, President of CEO of Weeks Marine Inc.

The Management Award recipient is Richard S. Weeks, President of CEO of Weeks Marine Inc. of Cranford, New Jersey.  His career started in 1970 with Weeks Stevedoring, the predecessor to Weeks Marine.  After graduating from John Hopkins University and earning an MBA at Harvard, Weeks joined the company full time in 1977.  Working closely with his father, Richard N. Weeks, he has grown the company from annual volume of $40 million in 1988 to $600 million in 2013. Weeks and his brothers represent the fourth generation of Weeks family members active in the business. Weeks received the Moles Member Award in 2009 and has served as president of the Moles and the Dredging Contractors of America.

Jim Stevens, Director of Operations for Michels Corp. Tunneling Division

Jim Stevens, Director of Operations for Michels Corp. Tunneling Division, New Berlin, Wisconsin, will receive the Supervision Award.  Beginning his career as an operator/foreman, Stevens has a track record of successfully completing increasing larger and complex projects, including design-build and design-bid-build. His most recent project was the $215 million San Francisco Bay Tunnel, where the bore was completed eight months ahead of schedule and well under budget.

Mark Leja, Chief of Caltrans Division of Construction

The 2015 Engineering Award will be presented to Mark Leja, Chief of Caltrans Division of Construction. Leja’s career with Caltrans spans 30 years, beginning as a design and resident engineer at the district level and steadily progressing though the organization, culminating in being named Chief of the Division of Construction in 2007. Over the last seven years he has been responsible for delivering the largest construction program in the department’s history – an average of 675 projects annually worth $11.25 billion.

Tom Clemens, President of North American Tunneling for Dywidag-Systems International (DSI)

Tom Clemens, President of North American Tunneling for Dywidag-Systems International (DSI), Louiseville, Kentucky, is the 2015 recipient of the Service and Supply Award. After graduating from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, Clemens began his 44-year career in a training program and inside sales position for Commercial Shearing’s Underground Supports Division.  While the ownership and company has changed several times over the years, Clemens steadily rose through the company taking on additional sales and operations positions.  He was named president in December 2006, after playing a key role in developing alliances with partner companies to dramatically expand their product line serving the underground construction industry.

The guest speaker for the 2015 Awards Dinner is CBS golf commentator David Feherty. For additional information, contact Dave Woods Executive Director of the Beavers at 650/694-4834 or dave.woods@thebeavers.org.

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The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) of Hartford, Connecticut, is initiating the first of two large CSO tunnel projects with the pre-qualification of tunnel contractors for the South Hartford tunnel. A pre-qualification RFQ is expected to be released prior to the end of 2014 with construction bidding scheduled for September 2015. Interested Contractors may register with the MDC’s ebid system at www.ebidexchange.com/mdc to receive notifications and access RFQ documents. A non-mandatory pre-submittal meeting will be held with interested contractors shortly after the release of the RFQ. The second tunnel, known as the North Tunnel Extension, is being initiated with a Basis of Design Report in early 2015 with construction bidding planned for 2018.

Work in the South Hartford tunnel contract will include construction of an 18-ft finished (lined) diameter tunnel 21,800 ft in length in deep rock, launch shaft, retrieval shaft, pump station excavation shaft, eight drop shafts, adits, six de-aeration chambers and odor control at potential release points. The launch shaft is to be excavated at 38 ft diameter, the retrieval shaft at 33 ft diameter, and the pump station shaft at 74 ft diameter. The drop shaft diameters vary from 42 to 72 in. The estimated construction duration is 54 months.

At this time, the liner will be at the option of the contractor and may be either a cast-in-place liner or a pre-cast liner. This is subject to change as the design is finalized. The contract documents will include a geotechnical data report, a geotechnical baseline report and dispute resolution board participation. Escrowed bid documents will also be required.

The completion of the overall South Hartford project will also include three additional construction contracts for the fit out of the tunnel pump station along with two consolidation conduit contracts to convey flows from current overflow locations to the drop shafts. The consolidation contracts will be bid in 2016 and the tunnel pump station fit out in 2017.

Both the South Hartford tunnel and the North Tunnel Extension are required components of a Federal Consent Decree and a State Consent Order. The tunnels are major components of the MDC’s Clean Water Project and will complement the Hartford water pollution control plant’s expansion to treat wet weather flows up to 200 mgd.

Local voters have already authorized funding for the Hartford plant expansion, the design and construction of the South Hartford Tunnel and the Basis of Design Report on the North Tunnel Extension. Supplemental funding is anticipated from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for all of these projects. With the funding comes the requirement of 6% minority business enterprise and 5% women business enterprise participation.

The North Tunnel Extension will be similar in size and length as the South Tunnel. Final diameter, length and route will be determined in the Basis of Design Report to be concluded in early 2016.

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The United States is now one of the top 10 most attractive markets in the world for investment in infrastructure, according to a new report from ARCADIS (EURONEXT: ARCAD), a leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm.

As the country continues the debate on how to fund much-needed infrastructure, the information in this report draws out key points for new partnering opportunities between public and private investment. Already, some high-profile projects are demonstrating how these alliances can benefit both investors and economic growth and prosperity.

The findings come from the second ARCADIS Global Infrastructure Investment Index, which ranks 41 countries by their attractiveness to investment in infrastructure. To gauge their appeal, the study looked at several criteria, including the ease of doing business in each market, tax rates, GDP per capita, government policy, the quality of the existing infrastructure and the availability of debt finance. Combining all of these factors provided a strong overview of the risk profile for each market and how attractive each one is likely to be to potential investors.

Rising three places from its ranking in 2012, the United States has made it into the top 10 for the first time. Improvements across all business indicators and an improved financial environment have increased the appeal of U.S. projects, but one of the major factors is the huge, unmet need to rebuild or maintain aging infrastructure like public transportation, roads and water systems. Additionally, planners are rethinking how to make cities and communities more resilient to flooding, drought and other challenges. The report cites estimates from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), pointing to the need to rehabilitate $3.6 trillion in assets by 2020 against a budget forecast of $2 trillion. To bridge that $1.6 trillion gap, government leaders are looking at alternative and private investment models.

According to Manju Chandrasekhar of ARCADIS, “Good infrastructure is critical for the competitiveness and long-term economic development of a country, but many governments are struggling to finance major infrastructure projects. The current debate in the U.S. demonstrates the tension between the need for infrastructure and recognition of the unsustainable nature of models that solely rely on the burden being borne by taxpayers. This same dynamic has led more governments to seek out private finance for infrastructure, as they work to ensure their countries are globally competitive, while meeting their social and economic objectives domestically.”

Chandrasekhar continues, “While it is positive that the U.S. has become more attractive to infrastructure investors over the last two years, we cannot afford to stand still. Public funding for infrastructure has remained slow, so we need to work with both the public sector and investors to help build the business cases to advance major developments in the U.S. We risk experiencing a stasis in infrastructure investment and economic growth if we cannot demonstrate reasons for investor confidence.”

While public private partnerships (PPP) and investment are not the norm in the United States, given the enormous need for infrastructure improvement, planners have opened to PPPs and other forms of alternative financing, with increasing ingenuity. On Sept. 24, high-level representatives from financial institutions, government planning organizations and private developers met in New York City at a round table discussion titled, “Alternative Financing Structures & Risk Assessment for Climate Resilient Infrastructure.”

Opening the discussion, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Patrick Foye set the tone for the financial leaders. He noted that climate-related pressures have stimulated more projects to add resiliency to infrastructure and in turn, by taking a more holistic and portfolio-based approach, the Port Authority is tapping into alternative and private financing to advance these and other critical projects concurrently. ARCADIS cited a current plan for a multi-purpose levee to help defend the lower east side of Manhattan from future storm surges and weather events. This plan calls for a private, multi-use development, which will simultaneously raise the elevation of the waterfront, providing lower Manhattan another defense in the event of another hurricane like Sandy.

Considering this discussion, Chandrasekhar also noted, “For funds with global mandates, emerging markets seem to be winning the race to attract a higher distribution of funds to projects. A key differential we have seen in markets outside the U.S. is that countries that have a clear integrated strategy which ties the infrastructure development plans to business and economic objectives tend to be nearer the top of our ranking. This gives long-term clarity to investors and is something the U.S. would do well to emulate, given the global nature of capital flows that now persist and the competitive implications thereof upon countries seeking to attract investment.”

The full ARCADIS Global Infrastructure Investment Index report can be downloaded from ARCADIS.

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Balfour Beatty has taken delivery of the largest Earth Pressure Balanced tunneling machine in the United Kingdom as part of a £32m ($50 million) project to improve water quality in the Manchester Ship Canal for its customer, United Utilities.

The 140-tonne (154-ton) machine is designed for operation in soft ground conditions containing water under pressure, differing from other large tunneling machines that operate in dry conditions. It was driven from Staffordshire to the Manchester site before being lifted down into one of the three 30-m (100-ft) deep shafts the company has constructed as part of a project to prevent undiluted sewage entering the ship canal.

Balfour Beatty’s supply chain partner Murphy’s will now start tunneling under the Trafford Parksite, including a road, to create a 3.66-m (12-ft) wide, 700-m (2,300-ft) long tunnel. The company is also constructing a 35-m (115-ft) wide, 12-m (39-ft) deep screening facility and a 30-m (100-ft) deep stormwater detention chamber.

The Trafford Park sewer scheme is being carried out by Balfour Beatty Utilities Services for United Utilities and is one of six similar projects being carried out along the Salford and Eccles corridor, with the aim of improving water quality in the Manchester Ship Canal.

Film footage of the delivery of the tunnelling machine, known as ‘Gloria’, can be seen on the United Utilities YouTube channel here.

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TerraFirma Earth Technologies, a Houston-based dewatering firm, is moving its headquarters to a larger office and yard space in Houston to accommodate more heavy equipment and office space requirements. In addition to the move of its headquarters on Dec. 1, the firm opened a permanent satellite office in Denver to serve Colorado’s burgeoning construction sector.

“We are experiencing steady growth nationwide,” said TerraFirma President David Giles.
“Our new location in Houston will give us more breathing room and a larger yard for our expanding arsenal of heavy equipment.”

TerraFirma recently installed an innovative dewatering and ground water treatment system at 100 Saint Paul, a retail and office development in the rapidly expanding Cherry Creek business district of Denver. David Cross of 100 Saint Paul, LLC, was pleased with the result. “TerraFirma brought a high level of expertise and extensive knowledge base to the table when we hit the bottom of the hole. They were instrumental in bringing about a speedy resolution to unforeseen subsurface conditions to the benefit of the general contractor and the project owner.”

TerraFirma helps owners and contractors throughout the United States maintain acceptable groundwater levels for both temporary projects and permanent installations. Past deep excavation projects include athletic stadiums, hospitals, high-rise facilities, transportation facilities, airports, tunnels, power plants, dams, waterways, petro-chemical plants, and municipal infrastructure sites such as pumping stations and treatment plants; as well as sewer and gas pipelines.

For additional information, visit http://www.tfearth.com.

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Dr. Raymond Henn

Brierley Associates has named Dr. Raymond Henn as Chief Consultant. Henn has more than 43 years of heavy and underground construction experience. During his career, Henn has held positions that include field engineer, superintendent and construction manager on direct-hire construction and construction management assignments. In addition to managing his own projects at Brierley, Henn provides in-house consulting for Brierley’s nationwide tunnel practice.

Additionally, Henn has served on 31 dispute review boards and as an arbitrator on construction cases. Henn is past president of the American Underground-Construction Association (now UCA of SME).  He is the recipient of the ASCE’s 2002 Roebling Award in Construction Engineering, the Underground Construction Association of SME’s 2008 Outstanding Individual Award and is a Distinguished Member of SME – Class of 2013. Henn is also an Adjunct Professor at the Colorado School of Mines where he teaches classes in tunneling, underground construction and grouting.

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The ISTT International No-Dig Conference and Exhibition was held for the first time in Spain, Oct. 13-15. Hosted by the Iberian Society for Trenchless Technology (IbSTT), the event was held at the prestigious IFEMA Convention Centre in Madrid.

At the opening ceremony, IbSTT president Angel Ortega and ISTT chairman Derek Choi welcomed 325 delegates from 29 countries. A short address was also made by Jens Hoelterhoff, Chairman of the German Society for Trenchless Technology (GSTT), whose Society supported the exhibition with a pavilion of German companies.

Following this, delegates heard from Liana Ardiles, Director General of the Ministry of Water Agriculture, Food and Environment. In her address, Ardiles recognized the Iberian region’s 20-year history of using trenchless technology and stressed the importance of utilizing the technology to reduce traffic disruption, particularly in cities. The opening ceremony was concluded with the cutting of a ribbon at the entrance of the exhibition.

In addition to the delegates, more than 1,000 visitors from 32 countries attended the three-day exhibition. Visitors to the exhibition were impressed with range of products on display from more than 80 companies showcasing products and services from around the world.  In addition to the National Pavilions presented by Spain and Germany, exhibitors came from the United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Australia, China, Italy and Denmark.

Headlining the event sponsorship was Catalana de Perforacion, a leading trenchless technology contractor based in Barcelona. Gold sponsorship was supported by Insituform and Vermeer. Other sponsors included Aqualogy (Silver), Hobas (Bronze), and Grupo AAB (Bronze).

The conference program featured 70 peer-reviewed papers, presented by international experts from 20 countries on topics of trenchless research, techniques and case studies on both rehabilitation and new installation. The first two days featured papers presented in English, while the third day was dedicated to papers delivered in Spanish.

The main social function was the Gala Dinner, which took place at the Circulo de Bellas Artes – a magnificent, emblematic building located in central Madrid. The evening is always a popular event for networking with colleagues and friends from around the world and this year’s event was a sellout. Following the dinner, Choi thanked the sponsors of the event, as well as sponsors of the Gala Dinner, JBP Composites, whose managing director, Borje Persson made a short welcome speech.

The presentation of the ISTT annual awards followed, with the first being a Lifetime Service Award presented to Taigo Matsui in recognition of his service in the advancement of trenchless technology in Japan and nearby regions of the world, and for his leadership as a part of the Japan Society for Trenchless Technology (JSTT) and ISTT management teams in the early 2000s

The ISTT Annual Awards were presented to:

• Dr. Fuming Wang – The 2014 Academic Research Award
• CatSurveys – The 2014 Product for its Mobile Ground Penetrating Radar
• Visser &  Smit Hanab – The New installation Project Award for its project Pre-Bent Drilling: A New Application of HDD
• UKDN Waterflow – The Rehabilitation Project Award for its project The Protective Structural Lining of Ham Sewer

The IbSTT also made awards to four members in categories to recognize their contribution to the industry in the Iberian market.

Yasin Torun, Chairman of the Turkish Society for Infrastructure and Trenchless Technologies, was joined by Fatma Kayhan, Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy, to invite delegates to attend next year’s ISTT International No-Dig to be held in Istanbul, Sept. 28-30.

The evening was concluded with a flamenco show accompanied by Spanish guitarists.

The International No-Dig Conference and Exhibition was organized on behalf of ISTT by U.K.-based Westrade Group Ltd.

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Keith Boisvert, an environmental specialist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, presents the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) plaque and flag to SKW Constructors, designating the company as an Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise level participant on the Elizabeth River Tunnels Project. Pictured (left to right) are members of SKW Constructors’ Environment, Health & Safety staff: Nick Hammond, Brian Kelly, Chad Hoople, Dana Roscopf, Mike Pickeral, Carissa Agnese, Zebulon Tilton, and VDEQ’s Keith Boisvert.

The Elizabeth River Tunnels (ERT) Project has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) as an Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise. SKW Constructors JV, the design-build contractor for the Project, becomes the first construction project contractor in Virginia to be awarded membership in VDEQ’s Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) at the E4 Level.

The E4 level requires facilities to have fully implemented Environmental Management Systems (verified by a third party) and commit to measures for continuous and sustainable environmental progress and community involvement. Of the 400 facilities currently participating in VEEP, only 10 percent attain the rigorous E4 level designation.

Additional environmental achievements on the ERT Project include:

• 95 percent recycling goal, with close to 99 percent recycling of construction waste
• Water reuse efforts including a self-contained concrete chute washout and self-contained truck tire wash system
• Reuse of crushed asphalt for stabilizing soil

Headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo LLC, is the private partner of the Virginia Department of Transportation for the design, construction, finance, operations and maintenance of the Elizabeth River Tunnels (ERT) Project. SKW Constructors, a Skanska, Kiewit, Weeks Joint Venture (JV), is the design-build contractor for the ERT Project. Located in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, the Project is comprised of a new two-lane tunnel under the Elizabeth River parallel to the existing Midtown Tunnel; fire, life and safety modifications and upgrades to the existing Midtown Tunnel and Downtown Tunnels; interchange modifications in Norfolk and Portsmouth; and extending the MLK Freeway in Portsmouth from London Boulevard to I-264. More information can be found at www.DriveERT.com.

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