Milestone: Non-stick Pipes Slipped Beneath I-680

On December 27, we placed the final length of the Bay Division No. 4 water pipeline under I-680 in Fremont. Representatives from the SFPUC, the general contractor and engineering firm came together this week to sign the final 25-foot-long length of pipe.

From L to R: SFPUC Project Manager Bryan Dessaure, Tony Ferencik and
Jim Pelletier of Steve P. Rados, Inc., WSIP Deputy Director of Construction
Alan Johanson and URS Corp. Structural Engineer Changmo Kwon.

In order to slide this new seismically-reinforced pipe into the existing pipeline, URS Corp. proposed an unusual method. Smooth sheets of the material used on non-stick pans, PTFE, were affixed to the inside of the existing pipe and the bottom of the new pipe. These sheets allowed the pipe to be slipped into place without using rollers or damaging the pipe coating. The material will also allow the new pipe to move more freely within the existing pipe during an earthquake so that it won't break.

WSIP Deputy Director of Construction Alan Johanson signs
his name on the final piece of Bay Division Pipeline No. 4
to be sliplined using the new technique.

We will continue installing additional segments of Bay Division Pipeline No. 4 pipeline throughout 2014 using a combination of open trenches and trenchless techniques.

White sheets of PTFE are applied to a pipe segment
 at the Seismic Upgrade of BDPL3&4.

Construction Update: Saturday and Nighttime Work

Work will take place on Saturday, December 21 and Saturday, December 28 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the SFPUC right of way near the southbound Mission Blvd. to northbound I-680 on-ramp. 

Workers will be welding and testing new lengths of pipeline in the Right of Way area adjacent to Tissiack Way. Vehicles will access the area via Omega Drive and Tissick Way.

Some additional work activities are currently taking place at 2 a.m. daily near the northbound Mission Blvd. to northbound I-680 cloverleaf, and will continue throughout next week with the exception of Christmas day.

Workers are using these early-morning hours to place mortar on new pipe segments and allow it time to dry. During this work, a generator is running to power a work light.

If you have questions or concerns, please call our 24-hour answering service at 866-973-1476.

Para información en español, por favor llame 866-973-1476

DeAndre Washington, Steve P. Rados, Inc., works to secure PTFE material
to the outside of pipe segments prior to sliplining.

Construction Update: Saturday Pipeline Work

A seismically-upgraded length of Bay Division
Pipeline No. 4 is being installed this December.

Work will take place on Saturday, December 14 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the SFPUC right of way near the Mission Blvd. to northbound I-680 on-ramp.

Workers will excavate and remove elements of the original water system to keep regular weekday construction activities on schedule. No road closure will be necessary and no construction machinery will be moved in or out via residential streets on Saturday.

If you have questions or concerns, please call our 24-hour answering service at 866-973-1476.


Para información en español, por favor llame 866-973-1476