Engineering News-Record announced yesterday that the Atlanta Water Supply Program project, constructed by the joint venture partnership of PC Construction and H. J. Russell & Company, is one of only five projects in the U.S. to be recognized in their Global Best Projects Awards. Just over 30 projects were selected from 21 different countries.

The Global Best Project Award of Merit in the Water/Wastewater category is the latest honor for this project, which was completed during five years with a total investment of $321 million. Additional recent awards include the Construction Risk Partners Build America Award, the Global Water Intelligence Highly Commended Award, the CMAA Project Achievement Award and the ENR Southeast Best Project Award. The project has also been recognized for its focus on sustainability, with Gold and Silver certifications by the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as Envision Silver by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The project included the conversion of an existing 400-foot-deep rock quarry to a 2.4-billion-gallon raw water storage system, as well as the construction of a new 5.5-mile tunnel to connect the quarry to 11 storage and flow control shafts, two new large pumping stations and the Chattahoochee River Intake Pump Station shaft. The new system increases the City’s emergency raw water reserve from three days to more than 30 days, ensuring that residents and businesses have access to clean, safe drinking water, especially during drought conditions and emergencies.

According to Ade Abon, project director for the City of Atlanta, “Prior to the project coming online, we estimated that the City could lose $250 million per day in economic activity should our water supply be compromised. We are now in a position of strength with the completion of this important project and the significant expansion of our water reserve. It has not only transformed our community’s water infrastructure, but also how we view the ultimate success of our utility construction projects.”

The PC/Russell team completed the award-winning project on time and $5 million under budget.

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But we aren’t leaving yet!

PC will begin work on an additional $50 million contract to add a 200-mgd river intake pump station and three vertical turbine pumps to the overall program. The new pump station will draw water out of the Chattahoochee and pump it directly into the tunnel system. The Chattahoochee WTP will also tie into the tunnel system during this 32-month project, completing the final component of the entire system. 

The initial $321 million CMAR contract included converting an existing 400-foot-deep rock quarry to a 2.4-billion-gallon water facility while digging, boring and installing a 5-mile, 10-foot diameter tunnel to connect the quarry facility to the Hemphill and Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plants. Two new pump stations will support the system and feature eight vertical turbine pumps and three submersible turbine pumps.

This extensive Program will increase the City’s emergency raw water reserve from three days to more than 30 days while capturing community, environmental and cost benefits to ensure Atlanta’s sustainability for the next 100 years.

Stay tuned as we get underway with the new project in the next few months!

Photos by Brian Gassel

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The Atlanta Water Supply Program project includes two pumping station facilities – the Hemphill Pump Station and the Quarry Pump Station, both of which were designed and constructed with a focus on sustainability and LEED objectives. The Hemphill Pump Station incorporated stormwater management, mercury-free lighting, water use reduction, and community connectivity aspects into daily operations while the Quarry Pump Station (pictured above) included energy efficient exterior and interior lighting, daylight and views, thermal comfort, construction waste management, green building education and outreach, and site open space features.

We are proud to announce that the Quarry Pump Station has achieved LEED Silver and the Hemphill Pump Station has achieved LEED Gold. These certifications recognize the City of Atlanta’s commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

The PC Construction / H. J. Russell joint venture started major construction on this critical $321 million project for the City of Atlanta four years ago and recently celebrated successful testing of the vertical turbine pumps, the final step to allow the City to greatly increase reserve water supply from a maximum of 5 days to over 30 days.

Take a look back at some of the memorable moments at the Atlanta Water Supply Program project:

6/16/20 Milestones Achieved
10/10/17 Bridge Crane Testing
10/5/18 Tunnel Boring Machine Reaches Final Destination
9/22/16 Driller Mike Makes Debut
6/29/16 Tunnel Boring Machine Arrives
5/24/16 Project Update

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The Atlanta Water Supply Program project is full steam ahead as we near substantial completion in the fall of 2020.

Nearly four years ago, the PC Construction / H. J. Russell joint venture started major construction on this critical $321 million project for the City of Atlanta. A substantial component of the work included boring six miles of tunnel from the City’s Bellwood Quarry to the Chattahoochee River. The tunneling work, which was mined 300 to 400 feet below grade, also included eleven deep shafts mined in Atlanta’s hard rock. This underground work connects the river to the City’s two water treatment plant facilities – Chattahoochee WTP and Hemphill WTP – and a new 2.4-billion-gallon emergency storage facility at the Bellwood Quarry. Additionally, two new pump station facilities were constructed to move water from the quarry to the tunnel and ultimately to the treatment plants.

Upon completion of these facilities, the City celebrated as raw water began flowing into the quarry. Last week, the quarry reached the required elevation for start-up and testing. The PC team is currently testing the vertical turbine pumps by pumping water out of the quarry and recycling the water through the distribution channel and back into the quarry (check out the video shown below to see the testing in action!). Upon completion, the project will greatly increase Atlanta’s reserve water supply from a maximum of 5 days to over 30 days.

Everything about this project has been tremendous – from the overall scope of work to the true team effort that has made it such a success. This is definitely a shining example of how construction management-at-risk delivery can yield extraordinary results on complex treatment plant projects.

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There were a lot of cheers in Atlanta yesterday as Driller Mike, the 853,000-pound tunnel boring machine, holed through to its final destination, right on target after five miles of hard rock tunnel boring. The PC/Russell construction management-at-risk joint venture joined the City of Atlanta in celebrating this major milestone at the Peachtree Pump Station shaft site near the Chattahoochee River.

The tunnel boring machine began its journey 2 years ago at the Westside quarry, which now connects to the Hemphill and Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plants via the 10-foot-diameter tunnel. The tunneling is part of the City’s expansion of their raw water storage capacity, an effort that will provide Atlanta with a reliable supply of drinking water for the next 100 years and increase the emergency raw water reserve from three days to more than 30 days.

Check out the live action on YouTube.

Photos (top to bottom): The TBM crew after hole-through. Before and after the tunnel boring machined holed through at the Peachtree Pump Station in Atlanta, GA.

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The PC Construction/H.J. Russell joint venture recently tested the 75-ton bridge crane at the Atlanta Water Supply Program project in Georgia. The bridge crane is located at the new quarry pump station and, given its size, three large weights were filled with water and suspended from the crane to test a total load of over 90 tons.

Once the project is completed, the crane will be used to install and maintain large pumps that extend into deep shafts beneath the pump station facility and tie into the new quarry water storage facility.

The post Bridge Crane Testing a Success appeared first on PC Construction.

Today the 400-foot tunnel boring machine (TBM) was officially christened with the name Driller Mike moments before PC Construction started the engine to launch his five-mile journey to the Chattahoochee River.

Over 700 submissions were received in the crowd-sourced naming contest. The other finalists were Peach Beast and Scarlett.

Assembly of the massive 12 ½-foot-diameter TBM began in late June when the main beam arrived on one of more than 30 tractor trailers that hauled the machine’s components from Ohio to Atlanta over a two-month period. Weighing in at over 853,000 pounds, Driller Mike will eat up to 80 feet of rock per day, resulting in four months to make the trek to Hemphill Water Treatment Facility and another 10 months to reach the Chattahoochee River.

Stay tuned for more to come from Driller Mike and follow his journey on Twitter: @driller_mike

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Excitement filled the air in Atlanta today as the first piece of a 12½-foot-diameter, 400-foot-long tunnel boring machine (TBM) arrived on the Atlanta Water Supply Program Phase 1 project site. Weighing in at 57,000 pounds, the main beam arrived on one of more than 30 tractor trailers that will transport the machine from Ohio to Atlanta. And that is when the fun will begin!

The pieces and parts will be assembled on a launch pad at the bottom of a quarry before the TBM begins its five-mile journey in September, chewing a tunnel linking the Chattahoochee River and Hemphill and Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plants to a new 2.4-billion-gallon water storage facility at the quarry.

Now the quest begins to find a suitable name for the mammoth machine. Over the course of the next month, the City of Atlanta will engage the community in a TBM naming campaign. The official name will be announced at the TBM launch in September.

PC Construction, along with partners Atkinson, Stantec and Robbins, is well underway with work to prepare the site. Scalers have prepared the quarry walls to ensure a safe working environment and blasting has begun to carve two circular 20- and 35-foot diameter, 200- and 300-foot deep shafts near the quarry. Using blind bore drilling, five eight-foot shafts are also being drilled at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, which will eventually connect to the tunnel.

Tunneling will continue through 2018 when the TBM will reach its destination at the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant. Once the project is complete, the tunnel will transfer 2.4 billion gallons of water to the quarry, increasing the raw water supply to a minimum of 30 days and enabling the City’s water infrastructure for the next 100 years.

Submit your TBM suggestion – h2o4atl.com
Follow the excitement online – #H2O4ATL

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PC Construction, along with our joint venture partner H.J. Russell & Company, is leading this construction management-at-risk project to provide Atlanta, Georgia with a reliable supply of drinking water for the next 100 years, increasing the City’s emergency raw water reserve from three days to more than 30 days. The project includes converting an existing rock quarry to a 2.4 -billion-gallon water facility while digging and boring and installing a 5-mile, 10-foot diameter tunnel to connect the quarry facility to the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant and Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant. Work also includes the construction of two new pump stations to support the system.

Conversion of the quarry and beginning the tunnel are the initial project components. Before work could commence, scalers removed lose rock from the quarry walls to prevent falling rocks while work is underway at the bottom the quarry. Blasting has begun to carve two circular 20- and 35-foot diameter, 200- and 300-foot deep shafts near the quarry that will connect to the tunnel. Each shaft requires approximately 20 blasts over the next four months. Preparation for each blast takes four days to ensure safety and accuracy.

A 400-foot long tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be used to complete the work. Delivery of the TBM will begin later this month on more than 30 flatbed trucks before it is assembled in the bottom of the quarry. Tunneling is slated to begin in September of this year and will continue through 2018 when it reaches the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant.

Using blind bore drilling, five eight-foot shafts will soon be drilled at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, which will eventually connect to the tunnel.

When complete, the project will address Atlanta’s goal of achieving a sustainable water infrastructure for future generations and flexibility in systems operation. In the event of a crisis or loss of water service, the project provides redundant water storage and can save the City as much as $100 million per day.

Members of the PC Construction team in the quarry, a part of the Atlanta Water Supply Program Phase 1 project

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