2019 Top Jobs Gas Distribution Category: Wilson Pike 12-in. Project
This project was a challenge to Team Construction. It was the first time the Nashville-based company completed a job of this size pipe diameter and that long. It consisted of 3-plus miles of 12-in. steel gas pipe, including a 4,403-ft bore. The bore itself was the second longest in Piedmont Natural Gas’ Nashville resource center history.
Not only was the scope of the project one of the largest for Piedmont, but also for Team Construction. Matt Mingus, Chief Safety Officer at Team Construction, said that it was also one of the bigger projects undertaken by the firm in terms of diameter.
“We had done some 12-in. and larger work but only for short stretches, and we had completed projects miles long that were smaller diameter, but this is the first time we attempted a job this length, in this size diameter.”
Team Construction runs four drill crews in smaller diameters so it subbed out the long bores to Mears, a contracting firm experienced in long, large-diameter bores. At the deepest point, the 4,403-ft bore was 190 ft deep, and went under a large hill. A second bore was 3,396-ft long. There were two more bores that went under a railroad and a major road. The open digging section was 5,300 ft long on steep terrain and followed a TVA power easement allowing limited room to work with that large of pipe.
“We have been working on this project for approximately four years due to the rapid growth in the southern portion of our service territory,” wrote Benjamin Davis, Piedmont Natural Gas’ Manager-Gas Field Operations. “Team Construction’s efforts have allowed us to keep up with demand and meet our current and future customer needs in the area.
This project consisted of 18,000 ft of 12-in distribution steel most of which involved installation across uneven terrain, creek crossings, a railroad and even a crossing through The Governor’s Club golf course. Working in proximity to the golf course, located in one of Brentwood’s most exclusive neighborhoods, required the construction of worksite barriers to mitigate the impact on residents.
This project consisted of 18,000 ft of 12-in distribution steel most of which involved installation across uneven terrain, creek crossings, a railroad and even a crossing through The Governor’s Club golf course.
“Team Construction completed the project with ease while taking the utmost care in meeting our needs and the needs of our customers,” Davis continued. “The two horizontal directional drills, one of which was the second longest ever attempted and completed in our Nashville Resource Center and one of the longest ever in any of Piedmont’s territories, is a reflection of [Team Construction’s] dedication and team efforts to get the job done. To do this type of project and complete it with no safety violations/issues and no recordable environmental events is a testament to Team’s skill and dedication as a preferred contractor of Piedmont Natural Gas.”
Due to the scope of the project, Team Construction employed an “all-hands on deck” approach to completing it. “Since we didn’t have a dedicated crew to work on that size of pipe, we had to do it by committee. We had crews from all over the country coming in to work on it at some point.”
Team Construction finished the project year-long ahead of schedule in fall 2019 without injuries or accidents. The successful completion of the project allowed Piedmont Natural Gas to bolster its system and feed the rapidly growing area.
Project Name: Wilson Pike 12-in. Project
Category:Â Gas Distribution
Owner:Â Piedmont Natural Gas
Contractor:Â Team Construction LLC
Location:Â Brentwood, TN
Subcontractors:Â Mears, All American Underground
Tags: July/August 2020 Print Issue, Top Jobs
