When Tommy Boudreaux of Norris & Boudreaux Contractors, LLC called Steven Gros at QSM, he had a specific question on his mind.

Working under a maintenance contract with Terrebonne Parish, Norris & Boudreaux wanted to deliver a solution to a problem that caused a section of Barrataria Blvd. in Houma to be closed for more than a year.

You see, … ground was failing under a large precast concrete structure, and it impacted two different size pieces of arch pipe. Boudreaux knew he could deliver a cost effective solution, and he knew QSM would be the company to collaborate with on the concept.“This segment of roadway had been out of commission for quite some time,” said Boudreaux. “I just wanted to help the parish get it back in working condition, and I knew Steven would have a a great idea if we talked through the situation. So that’s what we did. We went to work on creating an affordable solution.”

The problem: failing ground underneath a heavy precast structure had caused a 10-inch drop across the roadway. The sub surface in this spot was almost entirely gone.

Replacing the structure would have been expensive and time consuming. QSM proposed the idea of building a custom section of corrugated metal pipe. Gros called Contech Engineered Solutions, provided measurements and photos of the affected area, and Contech replied within days offering a schematic.

The Solution: Contech corrugated metal pipe. Contech custom fabricated a t-coupling piece of pipe. This now connects the two pieces of existing arch pipe (of different sizes), and the custom built riser eliminates the need for the precast manhole structure to provide access. The customized metal pipe was poly coated to extend lifespan and to provide protection against corrosion.

Working 15 feet in the south Louisiana ground, Norris & Boudreaux set about the task. Two pipes were cut back to their existing good joints. The concrete structure and the affected pipe sections were removed. The area of failed ground was back filled with limestone, and the custom pipe was fit into the section. And just like that, … Terrebonne Parish had a solution to a problem which impacted 25,000 vehicles per year driving the roadway.

“Steven is a great resource for us,” says Tommy Boudreaux. “He knows his products well, and he thinks about offering solutions. We have trust in QSM.”

Says Gros, “I’m just happy to be able to provide our customers with the insight and advice they need. My colleagues at QSM all live and work in this area. We’re affected when roadways go out, too. We want to see these projects move along efficiently and in a cost effective way.”

When asked what the main take away is from this project, Gros says: “I think the key is to realize we have alternatives in almost every situation. We can use alternative materials or create custom-built solutions that help projects reach completion on time and under budget.”

Do you notice harsh drops and expansive dips on roads in your area? Subsidence and sub surface ground failure is a likely culprit. Call QSM and ask about customized solutions for these types of nagging problems. 855-469-2015“This segment of roadway had been out of commission for quite some time,” said Boudreaux. “I just wanted to help the parish get it back in working condition, and I knew Steven would have a a great idea if we talked through the situation. So that’s what we did. We went to work on creating an affordable solution.”

The problem: failing ground underneath a heavy precast structure had caused a 10-inch drop across the roadway. The sub surface in this spot was almost entirely gone.

Replacing the structure would have been expensive and time consuming. QSM proposed the idea of building a custom section of corrugated metal pipe. Gros called Contech Engineered Solutions, provided measurements and photos of the affected area, and Contech replied within days offering a schematic.

The Solution: Contech corrugated metal pipe. Contech custom fabricated a t-coupling piece of pipe. This now connects the two pieces of existing arch pipe (of different sizes), and the custom built riser eliminates the need for the precast manhole structure to provide access. The customized metal pipe was poly coated to extend lifespan and to provide protection against corrosion.

Working 15 feet in the south Louisiana ground, Norris & Boudreaux set about the task. Two pipes were cut back to their existing good joints. The concrete structure and the affected pipe sections were removed. The area of failed ground was back filled with limestone, and the custom pipe was fit into the section. And just like that, … Terrebonne Parish had a solution to a problem which impacted 25,000 vehicles per year driving the roadway.

“Steven is a great resource for us,” says Tommy Boudreaux. “He knows his products well, and he thinks about offering solutions. We have trust in QSM.”

Says Gros, “I’m just happy to be able to provide our customers with the insight and advice they need. My colleagues at QSM all live and work in this area. We’re affected when roadways go out, too. We want to see these projects move along efficiently and in a cost effective way.”

When asked what the main take away is from this project, Gros says: “I think the key is to realize we have alternatives in almost every situation. We can use alternative materials or create custom-built solutions that help projects reach completion on time and under budget.”

Do you notice harsh drops and expansive dips on roads in your area? Subsidence and sub surface ground failure is a likely culprit. Call QSM and ask about customized solutions for these types of nagging problems. 855-469-2015