Steering Head Helps Navigate Challenging Ground Conditions

PROBLEM

In November 2015, Kandey Company of West Seneca, New York, accepted the Rush Creek Interceptor Project. Spanning over 8,600 linear feet, crews will install a combination of 1,700 feet of gravity and force main sewer line that will be placed within a 48-inch steel casing by 2017. The massive pipeline is being installed in an abandoned industrial area, which has made for unpredictable and challenging ground conditions. Crews have uncovered abandoned foundations and unreported utility lines throughout the project.

SOLUTION

To navigate the crowded underground, Kandey Company enlisted the help of the McLaughlin On Target auger boring steering system. Te steering head allows contractors to control horizontal on-grade changes and also allows for lateral direction changes. Te cutting path of the steering head is controlled by hydraulically actuated flaps that open and close to keep the head on the intended path. Its control station has a hydraulic power pack to control the movement of the steering head, and a built-in water level helps monitor grade throughout the bore.

RESULT

By using an auger boring machine with the On Target system, Kandey Company was able to complete a 335-foot bore to install a steel casing in one pass. Even with grade changes that varied as much as 2 percent and the debris in the ground, the crew was able to adjust the steering to produce an accurate bore.