OVERVIEW

Infrastructure Construction at O’Hare

Harbour provided construction management for infrastructure construction services to relocate a 90-inch water transmission main for the City of Chicago. The existing 90-inch water transmission main ran directly beneath Runway 18L/36R of O’Hare International Airport and conflicted with proposed airport improvements. The relocation of the 90-inch water main avoids new north Runway 9L/27R being constructed as part of the multi-billion-dollar expansion at O’Hare.

The 25-year-old 90-inch water main served seven communities with a population of 315,000 and had to remain in service throughout the project. The pipe size and design water pressure within the pipe, combined with the social and economic impacts, made this a one-of-a-kind project.

Aviation Construction Cost Savings

Using the hot tap over the next best alternative resulted in $80 Million in cost savings. Additionally, Stopple technology allowed the 90-inch water main to be relocated without customer service interruption.

This project also included 48-inch temporary bypass lines 3,500 feet and 1,600 feet in length to reduce the new 90-inch water central installation by approximately 50% and initiate revisions to the master schedule for airport expansion. A thrust block restraining collar was used that absorbed the internal and external forces, transferring all loads from the hot tap and the pressurized pipe into the ground using ten large diameter caissons tied together with a concrete cradle and steel tube framing. After the pipe was tapped and the bypass was fully operational, the new 90-inch water main was connected and switched over seamlessly.

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