Innovative Trenchless Solutions: Overcoming Pipeline Challenges Beneath a Live Runway
McBreen Enviro UK successfully installed a 95-metre-long liner beneath a live air traffic runway, facing the challenge of a complex diameter transition – from 900mm at the inlet to 750mm approximately 60 metres down the line. The project required detailed site assessments, precision CCTV surveys, and thorough preparation, including robotic cutting, to address the pipe’s deterioration and avoid puncturing the liner during installation. The skilled lining technicians and project management team devised a trenchless solution to avoid disruption to runway operations.
The pipeline was severely compromised, showing significant displacements, cracks, and collapses, which required a solution that could accommodate the diameter change without sacrificing structural integrity. McBreen Enviro UK employed a custom-designed UV-cured CIPP liner, which, due to its size and weight, was winched into position. The liner was then capped, inflated, and cured using UV light to ensure a durable bond with the host pipe.
This method minimised disruption to surrounding infrastructure and reduced project downtime, addressing the technical challenges posed by the site. By leveraging innovative trenchless technologies and advanced equipment, McBreen Enviro UK delivered a robust and long-lasting solution.
