At AGC’s 92nd Annual Convention held in Las Vegas, Nev., the Municipal & Utilities Division Contractors took the opportunity to learn more about one of the most unique construction projects that happened to be just outside of Las Vegas.
The project is the 3rd Water Intake at Lake Mead for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The $447 million design-build contract was awarded in 2008 to Vegas Tunnel Constructors LLC, a joint venture of S.A. Healy Co., Lombard, Ill. and Impreglio S.p.A., Sesto San Giovanni, Italy.
Southern Nevada is in the grip of an 11 year drought, causing the levels of Lake Mead (the region’s main water lifeline) to drop from 12,014 feet in 1999 to 10,082 in November 2010, its lowest point ever. One or both of the existing water intakes will be forced to shut down if the lake levels continue to drop. The new intake, SNWA's largest project to date, will be able to draw water deeper than its counterparts at 860-ft. The tunnel designs include a 600-foot vertical shaft near Lake Mead and a massive, custom-made tunnel-boring machine that would drill a 3-mile path to the deepest part of Lake Mead. The project also includes a marine construction component, blasting the area where the tunnel will meet the intake housing underwater, which was fabricated onsite.
Project Manager Jim McDonald and Deputy Project Manager Jim Nickerson discussed the construction of the shaft, excavation of the starter tunnel and differing site geotechnical conditions. Members of the Division watched the last few years of construction unfold through pictures and video the two brought. To cap off a great presentation, several AGC members also went on a special visit to the project site in Boulder City, NV. After gearing up with PPE, members were shown the top of the shaft and the custom tunnel boring machine as well as the marine construction dock and fabrication site.
To view pictures from the Division session, click here
To view pictures from the site visit, click here
For more information contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5321 or berrys@agc.org.