Design-Build Repairs an Environmental Catastrophe

Solution

Kansas City Water Services turned to the Leath & Sons and Burns & McDonnell design-build team to design and contruct the permanent repairs. In order to replace an entire aerial portion of the interceptor sewer, running approximately 375 linear feet, and build a new support system as quickly as possible, a design-build project delivery method was utilized.

While a typical design-bid-build process may take 12-14 months for a repair of this scale, design-build offered a significant reduction to the overall timeline.

Using this model, we developed a preliminary design and a guaranteed maximum cost proposal within one week. A new 72-inch steel sewer pipe was installed over Brush Creek. The new pipe connects to the existing concrete arched sewer at junction structures at both ends of the creek crossing. Our team also designed an improved pier system with five piers rather than the existing nine, reducing the number of structures within the creek and floodway. The piers were drilled approximately 11-feet into the bedrock of the creek to enhance stability of the replacement pipe and eliminate potential pier failure from future soil erosion.

Results

Substantial completion of the design and construction of the sewer repairs was reached in 105 days. Thanks to the design-build model and careful coordination, planning and communication between the client, Leath & Sons, and our team, the pipeline was back in full service in December 2016 — saving the city money and restoring Brush Creek’s water quality.