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Microtunneling

Laser guided, articulating remote-controlled tunneling

Microtunneling was first used by BRH-Garver Inc. in Houston Texas in 1986.

Since that time, BRH-Garver has been a leader in the use of this technology, and routinely utilizes this procedure in soil conditions ranging from wet sand to rock.

Microtunneling technology has certain advantages that offset it’s higher cost:

Reduces surface disruption, i.e. Traffic flow, utility disturbance, pavement removal and restoration
Allows deep installation under existing utilities
Avoids interruption of high cost fiber optic lines and hi-pressure gas lines
Able to penetrate through high ground-water tables without dewatering
Able to penetrate through contaminated soils
Cost effective when considering alternate costs of disruption

The basic premise of this technology consists of digging the launch shaft, installing the jacking frame and tunnel machine; lowering pipes to the jacking frame and jacking them ahead, and repeating. The pipes are led by the tunneling head, which is laser guided by computers from the surface. The tunnel head is retrieved at the end of the run from another shaft. There is no disturbance to the surface and typically the length of pipe runs can be as little as 100 feet up to 700 feet.

BRH-Garver Construction, L.P. has completed microtunneling projects recently in Houston, Texas; in San Diego, California; in Alexandria, Virginia; and in Savannah, Georgia.

54" RCP in Savannah, Georgia

20" Iseki Tunnel Machine

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Microtunneling project on City Street with limited work space

18" clay pipe installation for City of Houston

Akkerman 44" TBM

Separation plant in historic district of Savannah, Georgia