When you drive over a culvert, you observe an important part of our infrastructure that plays a part in water movement. But over time, the culverts can decay and suffer damage that prevents them from completing their jobs. Fortunately, multiple unique approaches to culvert rehabilitation can extend their lives and help builders avoid the hassle of replacing them.
Culvert Slip Lining
One rehabilitation method contractors and city maintenance teams need to know about is culvert slip lining. Through this process, contractors incorporate a smaller piece of pipe into a larger one that adds to the strength of the culvert and fixes its structural integrity. During the process, contractors will grout the space between the pipes.
The slip-lining method benefits the builders and locals on many levels. Not only will contractors have to spend less time digging than they would by completing a replacement project, but locals will experience far fewer disruptions to their commute. In addition, the local environment experiences far fewer disturbances since builders do not have to remove trees or relocate wildlife.
Spiral Wound Lining
Another unique approach to culvert rehabilitation involves adding a spiral wound lining to the culvert after it has deteriorated. This trenchless pipe lining method uses a polyvinyl chloride lining that builders uncoil off a drum and install into the culvert.
This spiral wound lining gives builders another option for culvert repair that has a minimal local impact. Contractors can complete the installation by using only the existing access points to complete the project. In addition, they can complete the project without any need for excavation or backfill.
Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining
A third method for rehabbing a damaged culvert is cured-in-place pipe lining. Through this process, contractors pull a resin-saturated tube into the pipe and cure it with heat and ultraviolet light so that it hardens. This approach allows builders to avoid replacing a culvert and extend its life by at least 50 years.
With these methods, contractors and city governments can get more use out of their current structures. Not only will they save precious time and labor, but they will also better reinforce their infrastructure for the future.
