Project Spotlight: State Route 82 Emergency Repair

By: Contech Engineered Solutions

In late April 2020, a large sinkhole developed on the westbound lanes of State Route 82 (SR82) in Warren, Ohio. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) responded immediately to the emergency situation. They determined that the culvert had failed due to an inadequate foundation support of the existing pipe and quickly developed a timeline on repairs to the large hole along SR82 in Howland Township, outlining a completion of the repair by early June.

The westbound right lane closed until further notice. At that point, ODOT worked with general contractor, A.P. O’Horo, to identify the best solution. They determined that helically corrugated ALT 5×1 pipe, manufacturing by Contech Engineered Solutions LLC, would be the best solution for the culvert replacement. High fills were expected in the replacement process in order to level the roadway above, approximately 30’ of cover. The helically corrugated steel pipe was well-equipment to handle both the structural requirements as well as the service design life, while also being one of the most cost-efficient solutions on the market. Additionally, the nearby Contech manufacturing facility was able to quickly manufacture the 108-inch diameter pipe and deliver directly to the site’s location.

A.P. O’Horo cleared away the sink hole debris then installed in the new pipe segments, backfilled, and laid the newly paved roadway above for a quick and efficient solution. They were able to reopen SR82 by May 15th – several weeks earlier than originally expected. Both ODOT and A.P. O’Horo were extremely pleased with all aspects of the installation.

Jerry Bailey from A.P. O’Horo Company, commented, “ODOT came to A.P. O’Horo Co. for an emergency repair to the ramp on SR-82 in Trumbull County, Ohio. The existing 96″ culvert failed, and ODOT asked us to install a new 108″ culvert within three weeks. We needed a fast solution to get the road reopened quickly.”

Additionally, Jerry stated, “The other pipe guys laughed when I called for quick delivery. They gave me excuses and months as an estimated delivery date. That was not an option. But not Contech. They stepped up to the plate and had 200 feet of 108″ pipe on the ground within seven days. We can’t thank the entire staff at Contech enough. From the first phone call until the last load of pipe arrived, we were updated daily on the delivery status. That kind of customer service doesn’t happen much anymore, but I appreciate the commitment Contech made it happen, and everybody involved won.”