Juniata River Direct Pipe Installation

• Location Pennsylvania
• TimelineJune - August 2018
• Construction
  MethodsDirect Pipe®

Scope

Michels completed the installation of approximately 650 feet of 48-inch steel pipeline underneath the Juniata River via Direct Pipe® method. The entry angle was 4 degrees and the exit at 5 degrees. Though the elevation difference was minimal, the access to the exit location and depth of the exit brought forth challenges. The entry location was in a flat area surrounded by wetlands along the river, and the exit location was along a steep slope that started immediately at the bank of the river. The exit location had to accommodate nearly a 35-foot reception pit/shaft to retrieve the microtunnel boring machine.

With 12 days of mining, the microtunnel boring machine reached the exit location crossing through mixed geology consisting of predominately shale and mudstone.