Michigan - 5/2003 - G.H. Ross Contractors, of Williamston, Michigan, has adopted the Slide Rail System as their usual means of shielding big excavations. Dispelling all of the myths generally associated with slide rail systems, Ross has used Efficiency Production’s Slide Rail effectively on many recent projects where it has proven to be extremely beneficial.

Some common misconceptions contractors have about Slide Rail are that it is too difficult to install, it comes out of the ground too hard, it takes too long to learn how to use, it’s left to the contractors to figure out, it’s applicable only to limited types of jobs, it’s less cost effective than sheet piling, it doesn’t work around utilities, it’s not accepted by engineers, and that it’s not productive.

Maverick, or results-driven businessman? Ross attests that knowledge and experience with an advanced, versatile system really pays off.

The first project was the $1.83 million construction of a new 3,100 sq. ft. Iron Removal Facility in Hartland, Michigan that provides 1.72 million gallons of water per day to the community.

The scope of the job included the installation of two 8 ft. green sand filters, a pre-cast backwash holding tank, a grinder pump station, 1500 lf. of HDPE, and all related site work at the water treatment plant and elevated storage tank sites.

Ross used an Efficiency ClearSpan Slide Rail System to facilitate the installation of the backwash holding tank by shielding the 24-foot deep open pit with panels, posts, and walers, without interfering cross braces. The ClearSpan configuration allowed close access to the excavation for installations of cast-in-place and pre-cast concrete, which eliminated the need for concrete pumping and large hoisting equipment. "It was easy to figure out," said Mike Ross project manager, adding, "Assembly was quicker than expected given that it was our first time using the system." Efficiency’s R&D director, Doug Austin, and Slide Rail Installer, Troy Serrells, were on-site to assist the crew with the entire installation and removal process!

The system also saved time and money since it was less expensive and less labor intensive than tight sheeting. "It’s faster and safer than other options and it makes it easier to bid bedding and backfill material since the dimensions of the excavation are constrained to the size of the slide rail dimensions," said Ross.

Project Safety Inspector, Greg Ross, stated, "The system is very sound. Assembly is limited primarily to machine work which limits exposure to personnel." He adds, "It’s a safe, engineered shoring system during the installation and at the completion of the excavation."

Ross used a Cat 235, Cat 950, Cat D4C, Case 580K, Bobcat 720, Case 1085B on the jobsite.

Another project was a $350,000 Sewer System Expansion in Howell, Michigan where a pre-cast 12x16 ft. wet well was installed in a 21’x 27’ footing. The job began in January 2003 while weather conditions in the North were at their worst. The soil consisted of frozen upper layers, silt and clay, and slurry-like soil at 14’ below grade with a water table at 10 feet.

Ross had to install a wellpoint system to dewater and consolidate the soil. They used the Efficiency ClearSpan Slide Rail again to maintain the unstable excavation and limit the size for an already large wet well base. "Soil conditions were unknown and changing during the excavation," stated Mike Ross, adding, "The slide rail allowed a safe excavation to stand while equipment was installed to handle unworkable soil." As a bonus the Ross crew was able to use the Slide Rail as an excellent mount for the header pipe!

After the structure was finished the modular shielding system’s components were removed easily from the frozen ground with a Cat 235 excavator while a Cat 950 Loader backfilled until the entire system was out and the pit was topped off. "It’s very cost effective," Ross exclaimed. "No cranes or special equipment are needed, there is no lost time since the system is installed while digging, and it’s extracted while backfilling, all with less disturbance of the site!"

The most recent project was a $190, 000, Tetra Tech MPS Engineered, Pump Station Rehabilitation project in Chelsea, Michigan. The task was to replace an existing sanitary lift station with a new 10 ft. diameter wet well 26 ft. deep, and also to install 30-inch diameter HDPE in 10 ft. lengths to a depth of 15 ft. in sand and gravel with an 8 foot water table.

In a small site area with surrounding houses and a busy street, the new structure was placed within 3 ft. to the side of an existing 27-inch sanitary line and 10 ft. below it. A 4 ft. diameter manhole was set 6 ft. from the new wet well. The old 5 ft. diameter wet well, which was located 10 ft. from the new one, was tied-in to become the new junction structure.

Ross used a 16x16x24 foot deep, 4-sided Slide Rail / Shore-Trak cross trench utility combination system with a 16 ft. guide frame, seven 2x30 ft. Shore-Trak pin-in-place panels, and an internal waler to shore the excavation and protect the adjacent pipe structures. The crew tied-in the connector between the old and new wet wells by simply pinning the narrow Shore-Trak panels just above the new pipe. "With this system we set and connected the wet well in half the time required for installing and extracting tight sheeting," said Ross.

A Cat 235 and 345 were used on the site to excavate the pit and install the system and structure. Although the site access was limited, the compact design of the slide rail system allowed for a safe, controlled excavation without large cumbersome components and without moving extra equipment. "It’s the best idea going," Ross stated. "The slide rail system is simple, safe, and it’s easily installed and extracted!"

G.H. Ross gains 90% of its total volume from the municipal water market. They have an exemplary safety record and continue to practice safe, and effective excavation tactics.