Vacuum Technology makes way for the new Valley Metro Light-Rail System.

The new Phoenix Valley Metro Light-Rail , which will cover 20 miles through the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, is expected to begin carrying passengers on December 26, 2008. The light-rail is designed to carry 3,000-5,000 passengers per hour and will ultimately have the capacity to transport the same number of people as a six-lane freeway, up to 15,000 people per hour.

Clearing a 30-foot path for the light-rail through crowded city corridors is no easy feat. Every buried power line, communications cable, gas line, water main, and sewer pipe must be located and moved. This requires careful planning and execution to avoid damage to existing lines, the results of which could potentially be catastrophic in terms of dollars and public health and inconvenience.

To safely and cost effectively accomplish this task, Archer Western Contractors, who was awarded a $95 million contract to build a 4.3-mile section of the light- rail in downtown Phoenix, called upon SSC because of our vast accomplishments in Vacuum Technology.

Utilizing the System 4000, a vacuum excavator that uses a combination of air, water, and suction, we have thus far been able to quickly and safely expose buried utilities along five light-rail line sections, allowing contractors to speed up their work and avoid delays.

Vacuum work will continue on the light-rail until its completion in 2008.

If you would like more information contact us at 602-997-6164 or visit our website.

Open Cut or Trenchless...is that your question?

Open Cut involves digging a trench along the length of the proposed pipeline, placing the pipe in the trench on suitable bedding materials and then backfilling.

Trenchless Technologies are methods of pipeline and utility installation with minimal amount of surface excavation.

Benefits of Open Cut methods:

• generally speaking, is the lowest cost method
• well suited for open areas with undeveloped land and few buried obstacles
• most cost effective solution in circumstances where traffic disturbance/detour is unavoidable regardless of the method used

Our most valuable assets are our customer partners!

In preparation for a new soil-cleaning and well monitoring system being installed to counteract the effects of five 1990's fuel leaks, the City of Mesa contracted with SSC to excavate over 100 potholes at their Sixth Street Service Center.

Beneath the Sixth Street Service Center exists a web of documented and undocumented private utilities that service the area. In order to avoid any conflict with the existing underground infrastructure, SSC utilized their state-of-the art vacuum excavating technology to expose and map all utility lines in the path of the new system and pump building. This technique eliminated the possibility of further environmental damage to the area.

Once the Sixth Street site is rendered safe for construction, the city plans to hire Conestoga- Rovers & Associates, well known for their work at the Love Canal to complete the project.

Last October, the City awarded SSC the 2006/2007 annual contract for Utility Locating as secondary contractor. Next the City plans to have SSC begin clearing 6-ft. deep holes for the monitoring wells.

For more information contact Rene Powell, Eng. Pubic Relations Specialist for the City of Mesa at 480-644-3800.

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