RESCU Program

Implementing a $500+ million infrastructure program is a highly complicated endeavor, as can be imagined. Technically, design and construction of such a large program is complex but typically what ends up being even more challenging is obtaining the myriad of permits, easements, environmental mitigations, and land acquisitions required. Infrastructure engineers and public agency managers talk about “linear projects”. An example of a linear project is a sewer, gas, or water pipeline. Other examples are rail transit, electrical distribution lines, and highways. A linear project traverses many different types of land uses and, therefore, it’s necessary to obtain various types of authorizations for the work to be completed.

RESCU involves linear projects with its Gravity Pipeline project and its Belmont Gravity Pipe project (an element of the RESCU Pump Stations Improvements Project). The fact that Gravity Pipeline project construction is via deep tunneling alleviates many of the complicated matters of permits, easements, and acquisitions. The Belmont Gravity Pipe component will be via “micro-tunneling” which significantly decreases the impact as compared with an open-cut trench. However micro-tunneling does require several shafts built from the surface to the pipe depth. This is because the length of “run” on a micro-tunneling machine is shorter than on a large tunnel boring machine. Regardless, the amount of construction impact on the local community is significantly decreased with both these tunneling methods.

SVCW is proud that vital infrastructure replacement projects can be done with minimal disruption to our community’s lives and in the most economical manner possible. Read about the necessity for and progress of our projects on their respective pages.