Read more about this project in the September 2017 issue of Water & Wastes Digest.

Louisville Water Company’s Eastern Parkway Project also featured in the July 2017 issue of Municipal Sewer and Water.

This article also appeared on Water Online.

Louisville Water Company, the utility for Louisville, Kentucky, has announced that Phase I of the Eastern Parkway Project to install 2.2 miles of 42-inch AMERICAN spiral-welded steel pipe is nearing completion. The three-phase project, which began in November 2016, will replace in total more than six miles of water pipeline originally installed between 1923 and 1930.

“This is the largest pipe replacement project in Louisville Water’s 156-year history,” said Michael Meyer, project engineer at Louisville Water. “An innovative solution allowed us to repair one of our critical supply lines without interrupting water service for thousands of people.”

In 2016, the utility set aside major funding – $21 million – for system upgrades. “Louisville is to be commended for its foresight and investment in the city’s water system,” said Jim Watterson, district sales manager for AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe. “This funding and efforts to refurbish pipelines is smart business. It will guard against major water losses and service interruptions and in the run long, save money.”

The water main runs along a historic, heavily traveled road in the city. To minimize environmental impacts and neighborhood disruptions, the utility opted to install the pipe using an installation method known as slip lining.

Using this method, installers slipped, or pushed, the 42-inch spiral-welded steel pipe into the original 48-inch pipe then cement grouted between the two pipes. “Compared to digging an open trench to replace the pipe, slip lining does not disturb the surface, making it ideal for historic areas, like this one,” said Watterson.

The drone video footage shown above and here, taken by AMERICAN, demonstrates the slip lining installation process.

Phase I is on schedule for completion mid-April. Phase II is scheduled to begin in November 2017; phase III in November 2018. Completing the project in phases during winter months, when water demand is less and service can more easily be rerouted through other lines, will help ensure minimal impact to customers.