The Chicago Skyway Bridge is a 7.8-mile toll road built in 1958 to connect the Dan Ryan Expressway to the Indiana Toll Road. In 2002, the Chicago Skyway attracted a record 18.7 million motorists whose tolls amounted to $43 million dollars in revenue–twice the $21.5 million in tolls collected in 1993. In 2003, during the final phase of reconstruction, the Chicago Skyway served 17.4 million motorists who paid $39.7 million dollars in toll revenue. So when something goes wrong with the road, or something that lies beneath the road, there can be major monetary, and time-wasting repercussions.
The managers office sits right next to, and underneath a large storm sewer line. While in his office one day, he noticed a leak coming from above. Not knowing what it was and not wanting major water damage in his office building, he had ordered a camera inspection for the storm sewer near by. This particular storm sewer line lays only 5 feet from the toll road itself. If you can imagine fixing a sewer line that is cracked and broken, and runs underneath a major toll road could be a nightmare. That is exactly what happened. The camera inspection revealed a cracked storm sewer line that was broken directly above the offices.
Obviously, digging up the pavement 8 feet deep and trenching a new sewer line 30 feet long was NOT an option, but what else could they do? 20 years ago, that would have been the only option, costing possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in material, labor, lost revenue, etc. Luckily for the manager of the toll road, the drivers, and the Illinois tax payers, there was a solution. A cheaper, longer-lasting, no dig, and time saving solution found by logging on to the Ben Franklin Northern Illinois website. That solution is sewer lining with Perma-Liner Trenchless Technology.
Sewer lining requires only one access point, in this case, a manhole by the ditch. The pipe is cleaned and prepped with the use of hydro-jetting. Hydro-jetting is, essentially, a pressure washer for the inside of pipes. Once the pipe is cleaned, the liner is measured and cut to the exact length needed. Since it is cut to length, there are no joints and is impossible for roots or other obstructions to penetrate it. The appropriate amount of resin is mixed, and placed inside the Perma-Liner pipe. Air pressure takes it the rest of the way, and the brand new sewer line is installed. The resin takes between 8-12 hours to fully cure. What you are left with is a new sewer line that both Ben Franklin Northern Illinois and Perma-Liner guarantee with a 50 year warranty. Better yet, this process takes less than 2 days.
Do you know the condition of your sewer?
Do you want a time and money saving solution?
Is a 50 year transferable warranty meaningful to you?
Call Ben Franklin Northern Illinois for a camera inspection today!
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