The Township thanks Representative John Hornaman for supporting our request for emergency funding from the state to help with the extraordinary cost for this replacement. We expect to receive Community Revitalization Program funds of $10,000, which will help us recover from the elimination of services necessitated to fund the replacement of the cross pipe.
On July 23-24 about three inches of rain fell in 6 hours which caused the failure of a large cross pipe on Francis Road between Brooks and Mohawk Roads.
Because this is a vital transportation route, it’s actually the second most traveled road in Franklin Township, the Supervisors elected to replace the pipe on an emergency basis.
Permits were secured and vendors were contacted and bid the work.
Chivers Construction was the low bidder. The Township purchased the pipe from Lane Metal for nearly $27,000. After engineering, installation and materials purchases the anticipated replacement cost is nearly $80,000.
Because this is a substantial amount and funds were not available, the Supervisors decided to eliminate the gravel program and discontinue other maintenance programs planned to be completed during the remainder of the year. Instead the Township crew will only do minimum maintenance and will shorten their work schedule.
Through these measures the Township will have enough funds to do the replacement.
Below find pictures of the replacement.
Francis Road reopened at 6 pm on September 3, 2008
- July 24: Large hole appeared after rainstorm indicating washout and undermining of pipe
- Day 1: Old pipe after removal
- Day 1: Excess material is piled on road and will be reused
- Day 1: New 7′ diameter pipe will be set slightly below creek level.
- Day 1: Finishing the excavation and preparing for bedding stone
- Day 1: John Hess Chivers foreman on the job.
- Day 2: Pipe assembly of 7 foot diameter structural plate round pipe–2445 bolts and nuts
- Day 2: About half of the 130 foot pipe is assembled
- Day 2: George Pushkar, inspecting the installation on behalf of the Township’s Engineer Mark Cory
- Day 3: Pipe assembly continues
- Day 4: Last pieces of pipe being set and bolted together
- Day 4: View toward inlet end
- Day 4: View of outlet end
- Day: 4 Stockpiled original material is reused for cover. View west Francis Rd
- Day 4: View east on Francis Rd
- Labor Day Weekend: Excavator holding pipe down, just in case, while crew takes several days of rest
- Day 5: Large R-7 rock brought in to protect the inlet and roadside berm from erosion
- Day 5: Erosion protect rock being placed along road berm and in front of inlet
- Day 6: Site clean up in progress
- Day 6: Finished inlet
- Day 6: Old pipe being smashed to be hauled to the scrap yard
- Day 6: Finished outlet