Client
Location
Services Provided
- Alternative analysis
- Data collection and analyses
- Geotechnical investigations
- Geotechnical engineering
- Construction documents
- Construction administration
Challenges
The Southern Delivery System (SDS) was developed by Colorado Springs Utilities (Utilities) to meet its service area water demands for approximately the next 50 years to accommodate significant growth projections. The SDS conveys Arkansas River water from Pueblo Reservoir to the cities of Colorado Springs and Fountain, and to the Pueblo West and Security Water districts. It is the largest single infrastructure project ever implemented by Utilities.
SDS included 65 miles of pipelines, road relocations, pump stations to lift the water 1,500 feet in elevation, a 150 million gallon per-day water treatment plant, treated water pipelines, and an earthen dam and reservoir. Technical challenges to implement the project included interstate and railroad crossings, a meandering stream, property owner constraints, topographic constraints, and complex geologic conditions.
Solution
RJH supported project development, alternatives analyses, preliminary and final designs, and construction by providing geotechnical engineering services to Utilities as a subconsultant to the program manager. RJH oversaw a considerable geotechnical investigation program that included drilling over 300 exploratory boreholes, excavating dozens of test pits, and performing full-scale hydro-collapse tests and cone penetration testing. Numerous types of drilling techniques were required including auger, fluid rotary, sonic, and percussion. Drilling was often performed in locations with limited or difficult site access in areas that included a U.S. Army base (Ft. Carson), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation restricted areas, Colorado State parks, public rights-of-way, and private land.
RJH performed extensive geotechnical analysis to support designs including excavatability, ripability, bearing capacity, slope stability, trench stability, response to wetting and loading, pavement and subgrade design, deep foundation design, corrosion potential, seepage and groundwater, and braced excavation evaluations. RJH provided geotechnical engineering services during construction and assisted with resolution of differing site condition claims.