AUTHOR/PRESENTER:

ERIC P. BREGMAN

GZA GEOENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

1 EDGEWATER DRIVE
NORWOOD, MA 02062

OWNER: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)

CONTRACTOR: Barletta Heavy Division

GZA GEOENVIRONMENTAL : Geotech Consultant
Contractor Support Services
PROJECT TIMELINE: 2008 2009
PROJECT LOCATION: East Boston, MA
PROJECT COST: $50 Million

PURPOSE:
Upgrade & Improve Existing Local Sewer System Capacity
Reduce Discharge Into Boston Harbor & Chelsea Creek
By 40 Million Gallons Annually (90% Reduction)
GOAL: Comply with Federal Clean Water Act of 1972
SCOPE: 11,800 LF of 36 to 66 Micro-tunnel
CSO Relief Piping
DESIGN SERVICES:
Structural & Geotechnical Engineering
20 Deep Structure Shafts
8-ft Wide x 96-ft Long Trench Support Design
MBTM Jacking Thrust Blocks

Aerial View of Project Site

REF: Google Maps (Satellite View)

 BENEFITS OF RE-SEQUENCING SHAFT CONSTRUCTION

Reduced Number of MBTM Mobilizations
Eliminated Five (5) Shafts
Expedited Shaft Installation Increased Efficiency
Resulted In Schedule and Cost Savings
BENEFITS OF SELECTING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
AVN Model Automatic Tunneling Machine and Hydraulic
Pipe Jacking Drive Unit
Many of the Required Shaft Sizes Were Reduced

GROUND CONDITIONS & SITE CONSTRAINTS:

Contaminated Soils
& Groundwater
Existing Utilities
Headroom Restrictions
Tie-ins to Existing Sewer
Structures
Difficult Ground Conditions
Wide Variations in
the Soil Strata
Stability of Nearby Structures

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGIES (MBTM)

Greatly Reduces Local Impact To
Community & Environment
Construction Related Traffic
Construction Related Pollution
(Sight, Noise, Air, Water, Etc.)

GEOTECHNICAL & STRUCTURAL CONSULTING SERVICES:

Eleven (11) Impermeable Shafts
Interlocking Drilled Secant Piles
Steel Sheet Piles
Jet Grout Invert Seals, Plugs & Ground Improvement

 GEOTECHNICAL & STRUCTURAL CONSULTING SERVICES:

Soldier Piles & Lagging
Drilled Micro-Piles & Contact Lagging
Reinforced Concrete Thrust Blocks

DRILLED SOLDIER PILE & LAGGING SHAFTS

40-ft Deep Max.
Groundwater Table
30-ft Above BOE
15-ft of Native Fill
atop Glacio Marine Clay
Clay Extended
Below BOE
Local Sumping
Numerous
Underground Utilities
Speed, Precision &
Ease of Construction

 CIRCULAR SHEET PILE SHAFTS

31-ft Deep Max.
Groundwater Table 25-ft Above BOE
15-ft of Native Fill atop Organics Over Glacio Marine Clay (w/ Sand Lenses)

CIRCULAR SHEET PILE SHAFTS

Jet Grout Invert Plug
Reduced Treatment of Contaminated
Groundwater
CIP Reinforced Concrete Ring Beams
Limited Groundwater Treatment and
T & D of Contaminated Soils

 DRILLED MICRO-PILE & CONTACT LAGGING SHAFTS

Low Headroom
Proximity to Utilities & Structures
Restricted Work Hours in Residential Area
Low Profile Track Mounted Drill Rig w/ Articulating Mast

DRILLED MICRO-PILE & CONTACT LAGGING SHAFTS

Accurately Locate & Install Vertical Support Members
9-5/8 x 1/2 Wall Flush Joint Steel Casing
Contact Lagging Designed
Avoided Existing Utilities
Reduced Vibrations Typical of Pile Driving

 CIRCULAR SECANT PILE SHAFTS

45-ft Deep Max.
Groundwater
Table 39-ft
Above BOE
9-ft of Native Fill
Atop Glacio Marine
Clay to Below BOE
Contaminated
Groundwater & Soil
Water-Tight
Impermeable Design

CIRCULAR SECANT PILE SHAFTS

Technically Innovative
Interlocking Primary &
Secondary Secant
Piles Design
1 Meter Diameter (3-3)
Drilled Steel Casing
14-ft to 27-ft Inside
Diameter of Shaft

 CIRCULAR SECANT PILE SHAFTS

Quantity of Secants a Function of MBTM
Size (Overall Shaft Diameter) & Min.
Required Wall Thickness
22 to 38 Secants
Required w/
Center-to-Center
Spacing of 2-6
9 Min. Wall
Thickness
2500 PSI
Rapid Curing Concrete

CIRCULAR SECANT PILE SHAFTS

Stresses Due to Overburden & Surcharge Transmitted & Distributed Along
Circumference of Shaft
Hoop Stresses Acted as Compression Force
Lateral Earth Pressures of 4500 PSF (278 PSI) Across 25-in Secant Overlap

 CIRCULAR SECANT PILE SHAFTS

Quality Control & Installation Techniques of Contractor
No Bracing Due to Geometric Properties (Arching Effect)
Reduction in Shaft Diameter, Construction Material & Excavation Quantity
400% Increase in Efficiency & Speed of Continuous Excavation

PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES RECOGNIZED

Innovative & Constructible Solutions for Deep Shaft Design
Flexible Design Approach
Minimized Impact to Surrounding Residential Urban Environment
Construction Efficiency
Schedule & Cost Savings Resulting From:
Reduction in Shaft Quantity & Size
Limit Bracing Required
Contaminated Groundwater and Soil Treatment & Disposal

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 Barletta Heavy Division, Inc. of Canton, MA (General Contractor)

Cruz Contractors, LLC of Holmdel, NJ (Micro-Tunneling Sub-Contractor)
Hayward Baker of Providence, RI (Specialty Sub-Contractor)
Herrenknect AG of Germany (Micro-Tunneling Equipment Manufacturer)

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