During July 2024, the State of Vermont faced unprecedented rainfall, leading to severe damage to the state's infrastructure that required immediate attention. Because of our strong reputation and established relationship with Vermont Agency of Transportation, we were called to assist.
The project was situated near Middlebury, Vermont, on VT Route 116, a two-lane highway connecting East Middlebury to Burlington. The specific location had a pond adjacent to it, which was originally slated for rehabilitation years ago but was delayed due to legal matters.
DOW POND BOX CULVERT
The existing structure was a 48” boiler pipe designed to drain the pond when it reached extreme elevation. However, due to the high volume of rain experienced in a short duration, this caused the pipe to completely fill and could not drain the water fast enough to bring the water level down, thus, causing the roadway to drastically erode. New York State Department of Transportation aided Vermont by supplying 15 pre-manufactured box culvert sections designed for rapid response to critical infrastructure failures, such as this one.
While the 15 sections were insufficient to cover the entire roadway, they spanned over half of it.
The project was fast-paced, with planning and execution occurring simultaneously.
The project site was very small given the nature of the work, needing large cranes to set the heavy box sections 30 feet below the roadway.
Due to the inability to install sheeting, the excavation process had to be conducted in an open cut manner, resulting in 1/1.5 slopes. This method posed a challenge as the center pin of our crane would be close to its maximum capacity when positioning boxes.
Adding complexity to the site, power lines ran alongside the road, limiting our crane's maneuverability to set box sections from up top, beyond the excavation boundaries. To address this issue, a mantis crane was rented for its telescopic boom and capability to navigate steep slopes with its tracks. By combining this crane with our 275 Ton Hydraulic crane, we successfully completed the task.
The success and safety of this project were greatly influenced by the dedication and efforts of various teams, including the field staff, safety department, engineering department, equipment shop, and management personnel. Collaboration among all these departments was crucial in reopening the major roadway for the traveling public of Vermont. Providing assistance to our neighboring community during challenging times brought a sense of fulfillment. Despite facing engineering obstacles, the team effectively executed the plan and maintained a safe working environment throughout the three-month project duration.
