Versatile Use of Concrete Pipe, Boxes Draws National Acclaim from ACPA

Minnesota highway project recognized with prestigious ACPA Project Achievement Award.

Irving, TX, August 20, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA), the voice of the concrete pipe industry, today announced that the Scott County (MN) Highway Department and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) have combined to win the 2010 ACPA Project Achievement Award.

The prestigious annual competition recognizes the DOT engineering team that demonstrates the most creativity and excellence in precast concrete pipe and box culvert design and installation.

This year’s winner showcased the versatility of concrete pipe and boxes on a section of CSAH 21, an arterial highway in Scott County south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The project team was faced with several obstacles, including complex environmental considerations relating to wetlands, wildlife and stream crossings, as well as planning and design concerns tied to pedestrian underpasses and increased dead load cover of an existing concrete sanitary sewer.

"The Scott County project is a great example of both the versatility and cost-effectiveness of reinforced concrete pipe," said Matt Childs, President of the ACPA. "We believe they've set an example that specifiers and DOTs across the nation can emulate."

The project required 18 separate permits from seven governmental agencies, as well as project approval from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the cities of Shakopee and Prior Lake, FHWA and Mn/DOT.

“This was one of the best large-diameter sanitary sewer realignments we’ve ever been involved in,” said Jim Docksteader, Vice President of Enebak Construction Company. “This was an extremely complex project, and we are proud that the efforts of our entire team were recognized with this important national award.”

Among the project’s unique design considerations were the County’s desire to build a trail on both sides of the proposed roadway to interconnect the two cities’ trail systems, as well as the Sioux Community trail system, and to improve pedestrian safety and mobility along the corridor by constructing two pedestrian underpasses. These elements were integral to the pedestrian accommodations needed to support the two elementary schools, a new YMCA facility and two city parks located along the corridor. The project also included the design of a 545-car park-and-ride site and a transit advantage ramp onto US 169.

Underground construction included relocation of a large diameter reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) for a sanitary sewer bypass, and 12-inch to 60-inch concrete pipe for storm sewers and culverts. Precast boxes were used for the pedestrian and wildlife crossings. A stream crossing called for a low-flow box culvert alongside a second box culvert at a higher elevation, which will accommodate high-flow spring runoff and wildlife passage during the rest of the year. A second dual-barrel culvert stream crossing included a weir wall in one of the culverts to maintain a low-flow channel during low-flow periods. A separate precast wildlife crossing was placed at a higher plateau near the wooded area, which also provides the Sioux Community members with access to both sides of their land for hunting and syrup gathering in the fall.

Cretex Concrete Products of Maple Grove supplied 32,300 feet of 12-inch to 60-inch diameter RCP, 700 feet of reinforced concrete arch pipe, 186 feet of boxes for pedestrian and wildlife passes, 516 feet of 8’ x 8’ precast boxes, 470 feet of 14’ x 7’ precast boxes, 364 feet of 12’ x 10’ precast boxes, and 550 manhole and inlet structures of various sizes.

The owner of the project is Scott County in cooperation with Mn/DOT. The design engineer was WSB & Associates of Minneapolis. The Contractor was Enebak Construction Company of Northfield, Minnesota.

For more details about the winning project, visit http://www.concrete-pipe.org/award.htm.

About the ACPA
Founded in 1907, the American Concrete Pipe Association (www.concrete-pipe.org) is a nonprofit organization comprised of manufacturers of concrete pipe and box culverts, manufacturers of equipment and providers of products and services related to the concrete pipe industry. Member companies are located throughout the United States, Canada and in over 30 foreign countries. The ACPA serves as the voice for the concrete pipe industry. It provides members with a wide range of programs and services to promote and advance the use of concrete pipe including marketing, training, technical, manufacturing, quality, safety, government relations, and research.

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American Concrete Pipe Association
Ladd Biro
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www.concrete-pipe.org
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