A group of Citizens employees recently worked together to quickly address a failing riverbank that had the potential to undermine Citizens’ steam infrastructure.
During a periodic inspection of steam infrastructure, Thermal Distribution employee Pat Korando, Utility Mechanical Maintenance, noticed surface pavement was collapsing near West Ray Street and Interstate 70, which led him to look under brush and discover that ongoing soil erosion along the White River had caused a large void.
Left unaddressed, the void would have continued to grow and extend below a concrete steam vault, causing it to collapse. The result could have been an uncontrolled release of steam (a public safety hazard) and a significant disruption of steam operations.
“The void was growing unseen under pavement until a portion of the pavement collapsed and the extent of the void was visible at the ground surface,” said Mike Miller, Manager, Engineering. “The erosion and subsequent void growth accelerated with each rain event."
Other members of the team included Mark Vogler, Manager, Thermal Engineering; Del Morris, Manager, Steam Distribution; Gordon Rundle, Engineer IV (Steam); and Kari Maxwell, Environmental Coordinator.
Both the City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources had to approve a remediation plan. Because tree removal was necessary, Citizens had to hire a consultant to perform an Indiana bat study and provide direction to Citizens’ construction contractor, F.A. Wilhelm, regarding potential impact to roosting Indiana Brown Bats.
The solution involved using wire baskets filled with stone and flowable fill to form a retaining wall and fill the void, as well as rock to cover the top and match the natural slope of the riverbank.
