Photo by Farr West Engineering

No as-built records existed for the town's 1920s-era failing sewer and water systems.

Photo by Farr West Engineering

A bursting machine pulled new pipe through the existing clay pipe, pushing through root penetrations and broken sections without harming utilities or the structures above.

The town of Hawthorne, Nev., was built in a grid above the foundations of an old mining town, with homes and businesses sharing narrow alleyways for access to garages and parking. No as-built records existed for the town's 1920s-era failing sewer and water systems, which ran under the alleyways.

The traditional method of opening a trench over the entire length of pipe could have destabilized structures and inconvenienced residents. The team opted instead to use static pipe bursting to replace old pipes. Crews dug pits every 400 ft and a bursting machine pulled new pipe through the existing clay pipe, pushing through root penetrations and broken sections without harming utilities or the structures above.

Key Players

Contractor: Q&D Construction Inc., Sparks, Nev.

Owner: Hawthorne Utilities, Hawthorne, Nev.

Lead Design/Civil Engineer: Farr West Engineering, Reno, Nev.

Materials Testing: Construction Materials Engineers, Reno, Nev.

Supplier: TT Technologies, Aurora, Ill.