To meet rapid population growth in the Tampa Bay region, a Kansas City, Missouri-based contractor plans to use an unconventional construction approach for the first time on a North American project.
Garney, a national water and wastewater contractor, broke ground in December on the South Hillsborough Pipeline, a 26-mile potable water pipeline on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The $505.7 million investment marks the largest project in Tampa Bay Water’s history, according to a Dec. 19 company news release shared with Construction Dive.
“We’re building a more resilient drinking water system that keeps pace with the region’s rapid growth and supports reliable service,” Sam Flowers, area manager of Garney’s East Pipe division, said in the release. “Innovative tunneling technology, experienced field crews and 24/7 coordination are all coming together to deliver a critical piece of infrastructure.”
More companies are seeing opportunities in water infrastructure-related construction. For example, AECOM CEO Troy Rudd said during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter earnings call, “there is no question that over the next few decades, there needs to be a significant continued investment in traditional infrastructure, whether it’s water infrastructure or transportation.” He also pinpointed the data center boom as a major tailwind in support of water infrastructure demand.
And it’s not just AECOM seeing this uptick in water-related jobs. Jacobs CEO Bob Pragada said its water sector “continues to be a strong sector for us globally… up 50%.”
First of a kind construction approach
The South Hillsborough Pipeline project, divided into two segments of work, will ultimately connect to three water facilities. Garney, signed on as the construction manager at risk, will oversee both segments of the project, dubbed segment A and segment B.
Segment A includes the installation of more than 89,000 linear feet of 42-inch, 54-inch and 60-inch finished mortar-lined steel pipe water mains, along with extensive horizontal directional drilling and microtunneling, according to the release. On this segment of the project, Garney plans to install a 2,300-foot curved microtunnel using a press fit connection system with steel pipe.
The advanced joint system allows the tunnel to follow a designed curve while maintaining the structural integrity and precision needed to protect surrounding utilities and infrastructure, according to the release. This will be a first for a project in North America, the company added.
Garney will self-perform all segment A work, while segment B will rely on subcontractor support.
Segment B will carry finished water farther south to connect with Hillsborough County’s future South County drinking water facility near the Balm area, per the release. The work will ultimately expand the reach of Tampa Bay Water’s regional distribution system.
JDS, a Lawrenceville, Georgia-based utility subcontractor, will install 38,000 feet of 60-inch finished mortar-lined steel pipe water mains as part of that segment.
Once complete, the water pipeline will have a capacity of 65 million gallons per day. Garney expects to place the pipeline into service by the end of 2028, with final project completion in the first half of 2029, according to the release.
