Rehabilitating Nearly Every Joint In Two Culverts

Rehabilitating Nearly Every Joint In Two Culverts

Market

DOT

Challenge

Two culverts were showing serious signs of degradation, especially at the joints. Spalling concrete had led to portions of pipe falling out near the joints. Almost every joint in these 60” and 72” culverts needed a repair that would not affect the traffic on the road above.

Several images of a stormwater culvert that has deteriorated at the joint
An opening to a culvert
Opening to a stormwater culvert pipe
Spalling concrete near a joint
A severely separated pipe joint
An opening to a culvert
Opening to a stormwater culvert pipe
Spalling concrete near a joint
A severely separated pipe joint

Engineered Solution

The DOT investigated various trenchless solutions that would not affect traffic and specified HydraTite Internal Joint Seals for the product’s long service life, and rapid installation at an economical price.

Scope

Both culverts were repaired following the same steps. Before the installation, damaged portions of pipe near the joints were smoothed out with concrete. Previous repairs that stretched beyond the joint were cut back closer to the joint to ensure the ribs of the HydraTite seal could effectively make contact with the host pipe’s surface. Then the 33 seals were installed, 17 of the standard-wide seals in the first 60” culvert and 1 of the double-wide, 4 of the extra-wide, and 11 of the standard-wide seals in the 72” culvert. The wider seals were utilized to cover larger separations formed by the missing portions of the pipe joint lip. The entire process was completed in 3 days.

Installing HydraTite in a stormwater culvert
A patch of concrete on the interior of a pipe
Technician inserting a wedge behind a stainless steel retaining band
two technicians installing HydraTite in a stormwater culvert
Previous repair laying over a pipe joint
A hammer being used to scrap away a failing repair over a pipe joint
two technicians installing HydraTite in a stormwater culvert
A hammer being used to scrap away a failing repair over a pipe joint
A patch of concrete on the interior of a pipe
Previous repair laying over a pipe joint
Technician inserting a wedge behind a stainless steel retaining band

Solution

HydraTite proved to be a cost-effective means of rehabilitation that did not interfere with traffic and provided an economical and time-efficient repair that will protect the pipe for years to come.

HydraTite seals locked over pipe joints on the inside of a stormwater culvert
HydraTite seals locked over pipe joints on the inside of a stormwater culvert