Representatives of Snap-Tite, a no-dig culvert lining solution, recently held a demonstration at Louisiana Highway-1053, just west of Interstate-55 near Kentwood, La., showcasing how to install a Snap-Tite liner into an aging and deteriorated culvert.
The demonstration was attended by about 20 people – mostly from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).
“We held this demonstration in order to show DOTD personnel how the Snap-Tite pipe is joined together on a project site and how easily their own crews could do this type of installation,” Trevor Cone, Snap-Tite regional sales manager, said in a written statement.
Starting at 9:30 a.m., the entire Snap-Tite liner installation took only three hours to complete. The original corrugated metal culvert, which was 48 inches in diameter, had rusted and worn down to 44 inches. It was relined using a 42-inch Snap-Tite liner.
“Snap-Tite allowed our crews to safely restore the culvert and fill in the voids surrounding the existing pipe without having to close the road or detour traffic,” said Phil Graves, Louisiana DOTD area engineer, in a press release. “It provided a timely solution that allowed DOTD maintenance forces to quickly resume their regular maintenance operations.”
The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Snap-Tite culvert-lining pipe, which has a patented male/female machining at each end of the HDPE, allows it to be “snapped” together, piece-by-piece, and pushed into the full length of an existing pipe. Then the annular space and any voids between the old culvert and new liner are filled in with grout. The pipe liner is available in lengths from two feet to 50 feet, and is available for culverts with diameters from eight inches to 84 inches. Snap-Tite also meets American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard M326 for rehabilitating culverts.
