ABSTRACT
In 2018 the Great Lakes Water Authority contracted a design-build repair project of the raw water tunnels that supply fresh water to the city of Detroit Michigan. The contract purpose is to fix extensive cracking and degradation of the tunnels observed in earlier investigations. Typically, new tunnels would be constructed to replace the old failing tunnels. This requires long lead time TBM’s and the associated costs of tunneling as well as service interruptions when the new tunnels are connected. Ballard and Kelley have worked together to create a new method wherein a team of divers partnered with a Kelley designed pipe transporter to install stainless steel liner plates in the existing tunnel in-situ with its use, thereby extending the life of the water utility without interruptions to service.
