SEPTEMBER 11, 1997 MEMBERSHIP MEETING

"LAKE TEXANA TO CORPUS CHRISTI PIPELINE"

Field Trip Summary:

On Thursday, September 11, 1997, the Corpus Christi Branch of ASCE took a Field Trip to the Lake Texana to Corpus Christi Pipeline. After meeting at the parking lot of Krieder's BBQ, on the west side of Hwy. 77 on the south side of Odem, about 35 ASCE members followed Gary Meurer, P.E., Project Manager with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, to the project site near Sinton for a brief narrative on the construction of the pipeline and the status of the project.

Mr. Meurer presented the following facts about the Water Pipeline:

General Pipeline Construction

Pate and Pate Enterprises

$72,978,400

Purchase of Pump and Motors

Patterson Pump Co.

$856,320

Purchase of Motor Control Equipment

Benshaw, Inc.

$394,000

Construction of Pumping Plants 1 and 2

J.C. Evans Construction

$8,325,000

Open Cut River Crossings

Zaval-Tex Construction

$5,598,406

Directionally Drilled River Crossings

Michels Pipeline

$3,887,720

Pipe Manufactured

38.5 miles

Pipe Delivered

23.9 miles

Pipe Installed

9.5 miles

Pipe Manufacturing Rate

14,000ft/week

The members spent about 45minutes at the job site asking questions and observing the ongoing construction of the pipeline. Here are some pictures taken during the site visit.

This view shows the trench excavation in progress, pipe in place, and sand backfill prior to compaction. Note the large dump trucks for hauling away excess soil from the trench excavation.

This is a proprietary backfill compactor that was developed by the contractor specifically for this job. It is a vibratory unit that compacts the sand on both sides of the pipe simultaneously without placing undue stress on the pipe. A future version is planned with wider tamping feet.

End view of the 64inch diameter C-303 Concrete Pressure Pipe with a worker waiting to assist in aligning the next section of pipe.