Managing Pipelines below Freeways and Other Major Infrastructure

Nearly every state in the United States has experienced a water main failure beneath a freeway or other major infrastructure. The headline news shows a freeway shutdown, cars engulfed by water, and abandoned. Most Cities are not prepared for the traffic disruption, societal impact, and expense caused by these failures. Not knowing the condition of a pipeline below major infrastructure is a risk not worth taking, and the consequence of failure is typically multiple times greater than the cost of proactively assessing the condition of the pipeline. This paper and subsequent presentation will deeply focus on key areas of managing these pipelines, including employing proven technologies used for assessing their condition to inform the owners in advance of failure.