The Milford Team Working Full Steam Ahead

The Milford PDPM (Project Delivery Program Management) team recently completed the Building 70 South Steam Line Replacement project. This project provided General Motors with a new steam line to replace the failing infrastructure.

The scope of work included the removal of 16,000 CY of earth for the 1,500 LF steam line. The engineering and layout of the pipe proposed challenges to the team as there were many underground obstacles and elevations that had to be worked around or relocated. A major concern was encountering a utility in the path of the steam line that could not be relocated. These challenges required critical thinking from the team due to the constricted schedule. The steam line supports necessary vehicle testing which required the project to be completed in 10 days.

To meet the project schedule, the team installed piping from both ends to meet at the new steam vault located in the center of the run.

This approach allowed for the core drilling of the vault to be postponed until the exact path was excavated, providing the opportunity to manipulate the inlet and outlet locations from unforeseen obstructions.

Upon completion, multiple overhead powerlines, poles, site lighting, and storm sewers were relocated in order to maintain the proposed path of the new steam and condensate line. The project was successfully completed within schedule and without any failed weld inspections.