Underground Construction articles from January 2003

Underground Construction archives from January 2003

A year to forget, a year to remember: in some ways 2002 was infinitely forgettable. But we should never forget the lessons learned, and always remember 2002 as the year we overcame the odds to build a better industry future. (Editor's Log).
January 1, 2003... It's hard to believe that 2002 is over. It's been a year like no other. It was year of... Coming to grips with terror: We entered 2002 on pins and needles, not knowing what potentially horrifying or dastardly acts may be committed...

Water main breaks in Chicago. (Newsline: for the latest industry developments).
January 1, 2003... On Nov. 8, Chicago's North Side was the site of a water main break, sending thousands of gallons of water gushing onto streets and causing a 30-foot wide sinkhole. Police shut down a three-mile stretch of nearby Lake Shore Drive after getting a...

Texas lake pipeline plan advances. (Newsline: for the latest industry developments).
January 1, 2003... Plans to build a water pipeline from Texas' Canyon Lake to San Antonio and Boerne took a step forward in November when a Third Court of Appeals upheld a ruling against the Friends of Canyon Lakes' efforts to stop the project. Friends of...

Kinder Morgan Energy gas pipeline underway. (Newsline: for the latest industry developments).
January 1, 2003... Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.E and Pemex Gas Y Petroquimica Basica (PGPB) have begun construction on KMP's new Mier-Monterrey natural gas pipeline that stretches from south Texas to Monterrey, Mexico--one of that country's fastest growing...

ASA seeks full remedies for unpaid subcontractors. (Newsline: for the latest industry developments).
January 1, 2003... The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Inc. filed papers in November with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit asking the court to expand the remedies available to subcontractors under a payment bond on a federal construction...

DCA to give away Thunderbird. (Newsline: for the latest industry developments).
January 1, 2003... This year's 13th Annual DCA Auction will be more exciting than ever with an opportunity to win a 2003 Ford Thunderbird or cash prizes valued up to $6,500. The first-ever car raffle held by the Distribution Contractors Association will be...

Obituaries.
January 1, 2003... L.B. "Bert" Irish passed away in his sleep on Nov. 19, 2002. Irish was 75 years old at the time of his death. He was one of a few people in the industry who saw the need for formation of a trade association for the betterment of the plant pipe...

El Paso says FERC decision jeopardizes safety. (Washington Watch).
January 1, 2003... El Paso Corp. is getting some high-level political support for its argument that a preliminary FERC decision on pipeline operating procedures could jeopardize industry safety. Two key senators wrote to the Transportation Department official...

FERC holds natural gas conference. (Washington Watch).
January 1, 2003... Interstate pipeline officials were scratching their heads a little over the natural gas conference FERC held on Oct. 25. No one seemed to know whether FERC Chairman Pat Wood, Jr. and his colleagues were taking the first determined step to...

Midwestern Manufacturing. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... Midwestern introduces a complete line of all hydraulic sideboom attachments for the 15,000 to 20,000 track-type dozer tractors. A complete line of cost-efficient hydraulic conversion kits for mechanically operated draw-works including Cat...

John Deere Construction & Forestry Co. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... The 655C and 755C Crawler Loaders from John Deere are equipped with two rear-engine, 130 and 177 horsepower loaders that come standard with electronic-controlled hydrostatic transmissions, featuring an exclusive Auto Trac system. Auto Trac is a...

Worldwide Machinery. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... The hydraulic sideboom conversion package features a single lever control, anti-tipping systems, free-fall capability, a vertical boom kickout and minimal maintenance is required. The conversion procedure can be performed by your own mechanics...

Case Corporation. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... The H Series crawlers deliver durable performance with reliability, comfort and design for the operator. The 650H is a versatile, powerful machine designed for difficult applications. It features a Case 4T 390 engine with a redesigned...

Caterpillar. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... The D5G features simpler operation and improved control of the hydrostatic transmission. A spacious operator compartment provides excellent sight lines to the working area, and sleek styling and modern appearance appeal to operators. The D5G...

RWF Industries. (Crawler Tractors & Sidebooms).
January 1, 2003... The BRON 150FLT is a powerful, compact fire line tractor. Built for pulling, the high horsepower tractor maneuvers through heavy brush with power and speed. Powered by a CAT 210 horsepower engine (or optional Cummins 200 horsepower engine), the...

Vacmasters. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The Vacmasters System 1000 offers utilities and utility contractors low cost, small size and high performance in an air vacuum excavation system. The System 1000, with selectable air or water digging, enables operators to pothole quickly and...

Vactor Mfg. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The Vactor 2100 is designed for cleaning entire wastewater and sanitary systems. Vactor's unique telescoping rotating hose reel and telescoping boom create an efficient work system. The single piston Vactor pump, the only one specially designed...

GapVax. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... GapVax is introducing its new line of Hydro Excavation trucks to the market. The GapVax HX Series trucks are wet or dry units--excavate with hot water, cool water and air. The HX Series allows the operator to excavate without the risks of...

Soil Surgeon. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The Soil Surgeon is a quick-connect hydro/air excavation unit that fits on all combination sewer trucks. The unit connects directly to the boom. The water ring is designed with six sets boring outward to get the tube down and six sets boring...

Vacuum source. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... Hydraulic Street Truck Boom mounted to the collection tank, is operated by one person using a remote pendant to raise-lower, extend-retract, rotate 270 degrees, and shut off airflow through the collection hose to build extra vacuum for removal...

Vermeer Mfg. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... Vermeer Manufacturing's family of Evacuator vacuum systems--a 550-gallon and 900-gallon capacity vacuum excavation system with potholing capabilities will help clean up the drilling "mud" that accumulates around the entrance pit of an HDD site....

Dynamic Air Systems. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The Jet-N-Vac line of vacuum excavators (Jet-N-Vac 300, Jet-N-Vac 600, Jet-N-Vac 800) from Dynamic Air Systems all have curb side controls with full instrument panel and safety shutdown devices. Features include heavy duty V-belt design and...

Vacstar. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The Vacstar line of vacuum excavation equipment is designed for the location of underground utilities and the cleaning of manholes, catch basins, wash pits, meter boxes, and washing equipment and property. The rotary-vane pump allows the...

Trenchless Technology Products. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... The TTPRO-CUBVAC is the ideal vacuum unit for municipalities and small directional drilling rigs. The CUBVAC will fit in the bed of a standard pickup truck or can be mounted on a flat bed or a service bed. It is powered by a 25 horsepower...

Vac-Tron. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... VAC-TRON Equipment introduces its E-VAC wet/dry model--under $10,000. Remove four bolts and transform a trailer unit to a skid which can be carried by most trucks or moved by forklift. Safely locate underground utilities by vacuum excavation....

Super Products. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... Super Products has released Mud Dog to take advantage of big projects, longer distances and the most remote excavations. In certain soils, Mud Dog will let you excavate with no assist from pressurized air or water. Just lower the dig tube and...

Ring-O-Matic. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... Ring-O-Matic's line of machinery, the Super Jet Vac, come in three sizes. Every size can be truck, skid or trailer mounted. Jet Vac's patented cone and its components work together in a controlled environment in soft digging operations. A...

Vector Technologies. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... HDD Vacuum Excavators are versatile, powerful systems specifically configured for vacuuming of directional drilling fluids and for potholing activities. HDD Vacuum Excavators combine high-pressure water and vacuum capabilities into a compact...

Ditch Witch. (Vacuum Systems).
January 1, 2003... A new, large capacity version of the popular Ditch Witch FX30 Vacuum Excavation System is now available with a 1,200-gallon vacuum tank and a fresh water capacity of 500 gallons. Its rear tank door latch, space-efficient trailer configuration...

SUE makes Sea-Tac Airport expansion possible.
January 1, 2003... Major construction projects under way at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport will not only make the facility larger to accommodate future air travel demands, but also make it more convenient for the millions of travelers who pass...

Telecom slow to rebound; long term prospects good: while analysts are confident the telecom industry must eventually rebound, they say hard-pressed suppliers and utility contractors must be patient.
January 1, 2003... The telecommunications industry continues to receive much of the blame for the hard times affecting many utility contractors, especially those who depended on horizontal directional drilling services for all or most of their revenues. For those...

Slow economy doesn't stop interest for cable-in-pipe.
January 1, 2003... This time last year, several companies were enthusiastically promoting "cable in pipe" technologies as the ultimate solution for connecting end users to high-speed telecommunications services via the internet. Placing fiber optic cable in...

New Grundodrill features small footprint. (1st Look).
January 1, 2003... TT Technologies, Inc. has introduced a new compact horizontal directional drill model, the Grundodrill 4X. The 9,200-pound pullback machine is 351/2-inches wide, 130-inches long, and weighs 4,100 pounds. The 4X is designed to fill the needs...

Gas leads demand for future pipeline construction. (Pipeline Construction Outlook).
January 1, 2003... Regardless of where in the world you look, natural gas continues to dominate pipeline construction and engineering projects. Recent worldwide survey figures show that an estimated 57,567 miles of new and planned pipelines are under construction...

TransAlaska Pipeline resumes operation following earthquakes. (Pipeline Construction Outlook).
January 1, 2003... What could have resulted in the most catastrophic event in pipeline history was averted when the 800-mile TransAlaska Pipeline System's (TAPS) Earthquake Monitoring System initiated automatic shutdown shortly after an earthquake registering 7.9...

A look at the numbers. (Pipeline Construction Outlook).
January 1, 2003... As previously mentioned, domestic and international oil and gas pipeline construction totals an estimated 57,567 miles. Not included in this total are projects that are in the early planning phase or where actual data or the realistic...

Pipeline Construction Outlook.
January 1, 2003... Pipeline Construction Outlook North American Pipeline Construction Projects Planned And Under Construction Cost In- Project Name Length ...

PLCA president's profile: James H. Nolan II.
January 1, 2003... Not many people can say they've worked their entire careers at just one company. But for James H. Nolan II, the 2002 president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association, working over 40 years at Sheehan Pipeline was the natural thing to do. ...

UCT Seminar Series announces: 2003 Municipal Workshop schedule.
January 1, 2003... Following its most successful program to date, the UCT Seminar Series returns in 2003 with three new Municipal Sewer & Water Trenchless Workshops. The first workshop will be held April 22-23 in Tampa, FL. The other events are scheduled for July...

New Trenchless Pipe Replacement. (General Industry Reports).
January 1, 2003... The Charles Machine Works and its worldwide network of Ditch Witch dealers will be the licensing agents for the patented InneReam Trenchless Pipe Replacement System. Patented by Nowak Pipe Reaming Inc., the system was developed to utilize a...

Vermeer. (The Latest Products).
January 1, 2003... The heavy-duty T1255 COMMANDER rock trencher is designed for trenching through solid rock to install large diameter pipe for contractors or deep sewer and water applications. A Caterpillar engine with 600 horsepower meets emissions standards...

TT Technologies. (The Latest Products).
January 1, 2003... TT Technologies' GRUNDOMUDD portable bentonite mixing/delivery systems use a Venturi mixer/filtration system to quickly mix bentonite and water into slurry. An intank re-circulating valve prevents the mixture from settling. The GRUNDOMUDD is...

Komatsu America. (The Latest Products).
January 1, 2003... With the introduction of its PC138USLC-2 near-zero-tail-swing excavator, Komatsu America has designed an excavator primarily for work in confined zones. The 86 horsepower, 30,865 pound PC138USLC-2 is powered by a Komatsu S4D102E-1 four...

Takeuchi. (The Latest Products).
January 1, 2003... Takeuchi's new five-ton, zero-swing compact excavator, TB53FR, combines the advantages of a zero tail swing excavator with a patented, side-to-side (STS) offset boom system to give the operator the ability to slew 360 degrees within inches of...

Weiler Corp. (The Latest Products).
January 1, 2003... The Tiger Disc flap disc for stainless steel grinding enhances productivity by providing higher cut rates than conventional zirconium discs. Tiger Discs are made with a fast-cutting abrasive cloth that is designed for cool-cutting on stainless...

Calendar: important upcoming industries events.
January 1, 2003... 2003 Feb. 5-7 Microtunneling Short Course Golden, CO The Colorado School of Mines Tel.: (303) 444-2650; Fax (303) 444-0889 E-mail: timcoss@microtunneling.com Web: www.microtunneling.com Feb. 5-9 Pipe Line Contractors...

iPEK and Envirosight LLC partner to buy environmental business unit. (News Update).
January 1, 2003... Everest VIT, a leader in the development, sales, rental, training and on-site service of Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) equipment, has sold its North American Environmental Business Unit to Envirosight, LLC, a standalone business formed by...

InfraMetrix to provide specialized pipeline, operations consulting services. (News Update).
January 1, 2003... InfraMetrix, LLC, a new service company, will offer public and private utilities a suite of infrastructure diagnostic services providing critical information on water distribution and sanitary/storm water collection systems based on the...

Lametti & Sons awarded rehab contract, completes renewal project. (News Update).
January 1, 2003... Lametti & Sons, a licensee of Inliner Technologies, will renew 54,000 feet of wastewater pipe under a $1.9 million contract from St. Paul, MN., Department of Public Works. The project involves installing Inliner's cured-in-place pipe (CIPP)...

Perma-Liner appoints regional sales managers. (News Update).
January 1, 2003... Jerry D'Hulster, president, Perma-Liner Industries has appointed Tim Hawkins and Rob Rittmueller as national regional sales managers. Upon making the appointments, D'Hulster commented, "our company is growing rapidly and to keep ahead of the...

Maxliner receives NSF certification. (News Update).
January 1, 2003... Maxliner LLC has received NSF International Standard 14 certification for its drain, waste, vent, continuous waste and sewer materials programs. The certification was based on the successful completion of the following programs: an initial...

Aries Industries. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Aries grout systems are designed and built for continuous operations. Aries TV/grouting systems are productive because of the reliable, maintainable and adaptable components utilized in an integrated configuration. Aries offers a wide range of...

Prime Resins. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Groundwater infiltration into storm sewer lines through loose joints and cracks can wash soil from under roadways and cause potholes and cave-ins. These problems can often be fixed quickly, without excavation, by injecting PrimeFlex 920, a...

Avanti Int'l. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... Avanti International offers a complete line of chemical grouts for trenchless rehabilitation of sewers and manholes. When used to seal the lateral connection and annular space between a liner and host pipe, chemical grout prevents groundwater...

De Neef. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... De Neef Construction Chemicals Inc. has added epoxy production equipment to the company's manufacturing facility in Waller, TX, and seven new products to its Denepox line of epoxies. De Neef has always had unique epoxies for specialized...

Strong Company. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... A pure fused calcium aluminate mortar, Strong-Seal High Performance Mix stops infiltration and restores structural integrity; however, it has been specifically designed for protection against microbiologically induced corrosion. Laboratory and...

American Logiball. (Grouting Technology & Equipment).
January 1, 2003... For over 20 years American Logiball has designed and manufactured equipment for the trenchless rehabilitation of sewers. Over the years we have developed a complete line of, mainline, lateral connection and push type test and seal grouting...

RootX. (Root Control).
January 1, 2003... RootX is the original, non-metam sodium foaming root control in an easy-to-apply powdered formulation. It foams on contact with water to kill roots, inhibit regrowth, and restore pipe flow capacity. The patented RootX formulation foams on...

Godwin Pumps. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... The Godwin Dri-Prime--a totally automatic self-priming centrifugal pumpset available in sizes from two inches to 16 inches--has been proven in many types of bypass pumping applications, general dewatering and other uses. With maximum flows to...

ITT Flygt. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... Innovative technology in wastewater pumping has arrived with the release of Flygt's submersible N-pump series. The semi-open, multi-vane backswept impeller, mated with a sharp relief groove in the pump suction provides the platform for this...

Thompson Pump & Mfg. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... Thompson Pump & Manufacturing has created the Enviroprime system for Thompson's dry prime, compressor-assisted pumps in both the heavy-duty trash pump (HTC) and the wet prime open trash/sewage pump (TSC). This system prevents blow-by--sewage,...

Acme Dynamics. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... ACME Dynamics' Dynaprime Pumps are sound attenuated to 60 dB(A) at 23 feet. With flows to 11,200 gpm and heads to 524 feet TDH, solids handling up to 4.4 inches, the Dynaprime Pumps are capable of automatic dry priming in seconds. Circle No....

Pumpex. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... Pumpex wastewater pumps are available in standard sizes from 1.2 to 220 kW to meet specific duty conditions. The air-filled class "F" insulated motors offers high efficiency and long service life thanks to over-sized stainless steel shafts and...

Duke's Root Control. (By-Pass Pumping).
January 1, 2003... Duke's Root Control has formulated a foam to control root infiltration and inhibit growth. The foam is pumped through a discharge hose, completely filling the main line from manhole to manhole. Foam is compressed against all pipe surfaces, into...

Cities learn value of chemical root control.
January 1, 2003... Homeowners with trees on their property know all about tree roots and sewer lines. Roots enter and grow inside their sewer laterals, causing backups and requiring periodic clean out by specialists, usually using rotating cutting tools to slice...

Pipe reaming proves effective rehab solution.
January 1, 2003... The Central Contra Costa Sanitation District recently used an innovative pipe reaming system to replace a deteriorating segment of sanitary sewer pipe in an area where other construction methods were determined to be impractical. The...

Gelco completes massive liner project in Santa Rosa, CA.
January 1, 2003... Replacing or rehabilitating large-diameter sewer lines buried deep in the ground is a challenge made more difficult by the presence of nearby utilities and surface improvements made after the pipe was buried. In California, the Llano Road...

BRH-Garver offers machine spiral wound: PVC lining systems.
January 1, 2003... BRH-Garver, Inc, based in Santa Fe, TX recently began to promote and install machine spiral wound lining systems, initially focused on Expanda Pipe. The technology was developed by Australian-based Rib Loc and is a proven trenchless method to...

Topcon Positioning Systems. (Product News).
January 1, 2003... Topcon Positioning Systems new GTS-810 Series of Auto-Tracking Total Stations provides several enhanced features over its predecessor, the GTS-800. These include improving the tracking speed to 10 degrees/second, the automatic collimation area...

Precision 2000. (Product News).
January 1, 2003... The Precision 2000 Circular Pavement Cutting Machine has the ability to cut 20 inch to 72 inch circular cuts through 10 inches of concrete or asphalt pavement in 3.5 minutes or less. The cutting blades can be custom fitted to meet project...

Insituform. (Product News).
January 1, 2003... Insituform Technologies has introduced Insituform SP (structural panels), a new sewer rehabilitation process that addresses the needs of cities and towns requiring large diameter, or non-circular sewer rehabilitation. Insituform SP is a process...

Parson Environmental Products. (Product News).
January 1, 2003... Parsonpoxy FG is a two component, flexible, 100 percent solids polyamine epoxy used for manhole frame and cone infiltration repair and can easily be applied using a putty knife or gloved hand. It is a high strength, corrosion resistant,...

New Grundotugger provides portability, power. (Product News).
January 1, 2003... TT Technologies' trenchless Grundotugger Static Pipebursting System helps burst and replace service laterals up to 150 feet quickly and easily, all without the costly restoration or social disruption of open cutting. The lightweight...