AquaSpira pipes replace corroded corrugated steel highway culvert
AquaSpira pipes have been successfully installed on a complex project to replace a Local Authority adopted culvert beneath a road, originally constructed less than 10 years ago with corrugated steel pipes. The corrugated steel pipes began to corrode several years ago, and whilst number of attempts to rehabilitate the pipes had been made, they were finally abandoned when it was discovered that sections of the pipes had completely disintegrated.
The initial plan was to re-construct the culvert with 1800mm Ø concrete pipes. However, soon after the arrival on site of the first concrete pipes, it became apparent that it was going to be impossible to lay and joint such heavy, cumbersome pipes underneath the multitude of other pipes and services that had been laid above the original culvert. Another major problem was the fact that the wall thickness of the concrete pipes, and in particular, the 2400mm OD of the pipe socket, meant that it was simply not possible to fit the pipes beneath the existing services.
With a partial road closure in place and the trench excavated, the search began for a pipe that could fit within the limited space available, without reducing the required flow capacity. The pipe also needed to be corrosion resistant, very strong and yet light enough to manoeuvre into position underneath the existing services.
AquaSpira Steel Reinforced Polyethylene pipes met all of the necessary criteria, and following close scrutiny by the project engineers to ensure that the pipes would provide excellent long-term performance, the pipes were approved for use.
To minimize the number of joints required, the contractor opted to use 6m lengths. Weighing just 600kg, the pipes were easily lifted and placed by a small machine, which continued to assist in the process of carefully manoeuvring them into position. Needless to say, faced with such a difficult and complex task, all parties were extremely pleased and relieved to see the pipes in the ground with minimal hassle.
