Emergency Sinkhole Repairs

In April 2016, Spiniello Companies responded to a major sinkhole that formed on the City of Baltimore’s High Level Interceptor in the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood. As repairs were underway, two additional sinkholes appeared within a mile of the original location. Spiniello was tasked with repair of all three locations along with rehabilitating approximately one mile of the 110 year old 80" concrete and brick pipe. Contract work included:

• Installation of three temporary pump stations, each with a 28 MGD capacity

• Installation of 11,000 LF of bypass piping through some of the busiest traffic corridors in the City

• Install multiple caissons for bypass pumping suction and discharge points

• Excavate and restore three major sinkholes

• Clean 5,500 LF of 80 pipe that was found to be up to 90% full of debris

• Cured-in-Place Line 5,500 LF of 80” pipe

• Traffic management and roadway restoration

Project Details

Following installation of an extensive bypass system, access to each pipe collapse was achieved by liner plate shaft excavations. Each shaft was 35 to 50 feet in depth and up to 24 feet in diameter. The 80" pipes were then cleaned with specialty equipment resulting in over 3000 tons of material being removed from the pipeline prior to lining. Due to the discovery of high lead levels, hazardous material disposal guidelines had to be followed. The 80" pipe was then CIPP lined in segments over 2,000 feet long to limit costly excavations and further disruption to traffic and local businesses. In less than a year, the three sinkholes were repaired, flow was restored to the newly lined sewer main and the City streets were re-opened to traffic. Spiniello's expertise and ability to perform most aspects of the emergency work in-house assured timely and economical completion to this critical project.