AIRPORT RENOVATION PROJECT, A NEW CHALLENGE FOR AKKERMAN CUSTOMER!
A renovation project near the Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport requiring the installation of 930 lineal feet of 14 foot outside diameter Ring Beam & Lagging using the tunneling method was started early this year by a long time Akkerman customer. EJM Pipe Services of Lino Lakes, Minnesota began the installation of the first of two bores in late January and completed the first 465 foot long run on February 8th. This project marks the first time EJM has constructed a pipeline using the ring beam and lagging method.
An Akkerman BS168 Excavator Tunnel Boring Machine is being used to excavate the soil and pilot an accurate course for the tunnel. This Tunnel Boring Shield was equipped with sand shelves and closeable doors to help prevent intrusion of any flowing grounds. It was also fitted with a push can and tunnel erecting section in which the sections of tunnel supports were constructed. The fully rotating and extendable excavator boom mounted in the Tunnel Boring Shield allows the operator to excavate the tunnel face as the jacking progresses. As the soil was excavated it was pulled onto a belt conveyor and loaded into a 5 cubic yard dirt bucket. An Akkerman model 1448X Haul System transports the spoil filled dirt bucket out of the tunnel and a small utility trailer was also used to transport tunnel construction materials to the tunnel heading. After the bucket is dumped, it is then returned to the tunneling face and the cycle repeated. The pipeline began on the shoreline of the Minnesota River and progressed westward under state highway 5, then toward the Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport boundry. After the initial launch, each section of tunnel was constructed and the boring shield thrust forward while excavations continued. After the tunnel sections were constructed, each section was expanded to match the cutting diameter of the tunneling shield. Expanding the tunnel sections was carried out to keep settlement of the soils around the pipeline to a minimum.
EJM’s crew was assisted by Akkerman technician Curt Nelson during the inital setup and launch, as well as during the construction of the first several tunnel segments. EJM vice president Mark Montgomery was on-hand for much of the construction and stated that he was extremely pleased with the equipment operation and support he received on the project. Power to operate the large diameter boring shield was supplied by the Akkerman model 5000 pump unit which was stationed at the top of the launch shaft and connected to the boring shield via supply lines within the tunnel. The Akkerman pump unit was also fitted with an auxiliary 200 gallon hydraulic reservoir due to the increased oil capacity requirement of the large diameter thrust rams.
Lynn Mikl, EJM Superintendent and his crew deserve much credit for their superior efforts given toward the completion of this project. After the tunneling operation is completed, a 10 foot inside diameter concrete pipeline will be installed inside of the tunnel and the completed line cement grouted into place. EJM Pipe Services is a family owned business that has been actively involved in the trenchless construction of horizontal pipelines using pipejacking, auger boring and tunneling since 1978 and has utilized Akkerman trenchless equipment since 1991.
EJM installs pipelines throughout the United States for water, sewer, drainage, electrical and other utilities under roads, railroads, rivers and interstate highways.