Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
(OP)
I'll start with this - http://www.globalpump.com/road-ramps.php - so everyone knows what I'm discussing.
Has anyone ever seen this permanently installed in an active water distribution system?
The purpose is not the have vehicular traffic continuously cross a water main. I have a situation where we have a 20" water main and the need to cross the water main with a very large box culvert. From a stormwater hydraulics standpoint, I don't want to route the water main through the box culvert. The local municipality doesn't want the main 20'+ deep. The only real option is to go over the box culvert. However, going over the culvert will provide zero cover over the main, and will actually be exposed above ground. I'm already strapping the standard circular pipe to the box culvert. I was thinking that I may be able to install something similar to the previously referenced Road Ramp and secure it to the culvert, I could at least get enough cover to get a little grass to grow and not create an "eye sore" for the public.
Thanks for any insight.
Has anyone ever seen this permanently installed in an active water distribution system?
The purpose is not the have vehicular traffic continuously cross a water main. I have a situation where we have a 20" water main and the need to cross the water main with a very large box culvert. From a stormwater hydraulics standpoint, I don't want to route the water main through the box culvert. The local municipality doesn't want the main 20'+ deep. The only real option is to go over the box culvert. However, going over the culvert will provide zero cover over the main, and will actually be exposed above ground. I'm already strapping the standard circular pipe to the box culvert. I was thinking that I may be able to install something similar to the previously referenced Road Ramp and secure it to the culvert, I could at least get enough cover to get a little grass to grow and not create an "eye sore" for the public.
Thanks for any insight.





RE: Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
Don't think the temporary structure will help.
Develop some options:
1 Detour around the obstacle
2. Go under.
3. Go over. There are plenty of pipe bridges. Some can be heat traced and insulated, some do not need it.
http://www.dhf.co.jp/eng/products/transport/bridge...
Develop some options and let your client pick one.
RE: Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
That being said, designs of structures combining even significant traffic carrying conveyance ability with conduit functions are not without at least historic precedent. An interesting visual illustration of such are the twin 48" cast iron pipe arch columns depicted in the historical photograph (image 123 of 507 this collection) at http://www.militaryhistoryphotos.com/Civil%20War/M.... This 200 ft+ span bridge was designed by General Montgomery Meigs of the U.S. War Department (later US Army Corps of Engineers) before the Civil War, and I believe Mr. Meigs incidentally also designed our near equally durable U.S. capitol dome using arched cast iron). This photograph from the National Archives was incidentally taken by a gentleman named Matthew Brady around the late 1850's, who was later to take many historical photographs including a few of the then quite lively President Abraham Lincoln. I believe these unique arches carried the structure, as well as all traffic up to street car on a little thoroughfare called Pennsylvania Avenue (and at the same time conveyed water under pressure of the Washington Aqueduct) for 50 or 60 years thereafter, at which time they were surrounded by a more modern and larger concrete bridge structure). I incidentally believe these particular pipelines are still in service today, now a sesquicentury later.
All have a good weekend!
RE: Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
RE: Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
RE: Permanent Installation of Road Ramp for Water Main
Keep it simple:
1. Use standard watermains allowed for potable water to cross the river to get simplest possible operational and maintenance cost.
2. Contact a (landscaping?) architect to get ideas on an ethical, modern design for the extra necessary bearing and protecting structure. It need not necessarily cost a fortune.
3. For engineering purposes: check strength and structural needs, protection against climatic and general surrounding conditions. Include in discussions above.
Good Luck!