METCO Works on Upper Rouge Tunnel Project

Warren, Michigan - METCO Services, Inc. partnered with Parsons Brinkerhoff Michigan, Inc. to complete work for The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) on a large-scope development called the Upper Rouge Tunnel Project.

DWSD is tasked with providing a sanitary water supply and proper disposal system for its city and suburban residents. With this in mind, the Upper Rouge Tunnel Project was conceived to divert overflow from heavy rains and snow melts away from the Rouge River and to Detroit’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The planned tunnel, 160 feet below ground, is designed to closely follow the Rouge River.

METCO’s role was to provide the Design Team with a survey demonstrating the existing site conditions.  Primary and Secondary Control Networks, aerial and conventional topographic mapping, boundary establishment and geotechnical support were all provided.  The Primary and Secondary Control Networks, which were related to the City of Detroit Horizontal and Vertical Control Datum’s, were established and verified using GPS receivers, total stations and digital levels. Based on the control network, aerial mapping was performed to provide an overall Basemap of the project. Conventional surveying was used to locate and provide detailed information of the existing sewer outfalls.  Using the topographic survey information the Design Team established the preliminary tunnel and lateral alignments for the project.  Once the general alignments were established the geotechnical phase began with METCO staking soil borings at specific locations across the site.  The geotechnical contractor then performed the soil borings and METCO supplied the as-dug location and elevation of each boring to provide baseline data for reports.  The geotechnical reports were analyzed and a final alignment was determined.  Over 300 easement documents were then created along the alignment granting DWSD subsurface drainage rights as well as construction and permanent easements at the existing outfalls and lateral alignments.   A selection of the documents were recently published in The Detroit Legal News, Friday, July 20, 2007 edition.

METCO Services, Inc. specializes in consulting, engineering, architectural and surveying with a commitment to quality. Founded in 1983 as a minority-owned business enterprise, METCO serves public and private institutions of all disciplines, and has successfully partnered with clients in the automotive, manufacturing, construction, education, architectural, refineries, and public works industries with a special focus on High Definition laser scanning. METCO has become one of the leading companies to offer laser scanning for everyday surveying services, including topographic surveys, architectural surveys, historical preservation and ALTA land title surveys in urban areas. All METCO’s professionals share the same philosophy; to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions to meet clients’ needs and objectives.

8/14/2007 1:38:57 PM