UNDERWATER PAVING LOOKS PROMISING

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is sponsoring an experimental project to reline irrigation canals underwater, without interrupting their vital water supply. The $5.2 million prototype project includes underwater lining of 7500 ft of the Coachella Canal in the southern California desert about 75 miles southeast of Palm Springs, and development of equipment needed to do the job. A 350,000-lb. dredge/trimmer and a 400,000-lb. underwater slipform paver were developed. Both custom-designed, crawler-mounted machines straddle the 103-ft-wide canal and, guided by stringlines on each bank, trim or pave half of the canal's width at a time. A problem with the handling of the PVC membrane caused project delay. This article discusses the cleaning and reshaping of the canal sideslopes with the new dredge/trimmer, laying of the PVC membrane, paving, and the supply and composition of the concrete.

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Cahners Publishing Company

    275 Washington Street
    Newton, MA  United States  02158-1630
  • Authors:
    • Munn, W D
  • Publication Date: 1989-10

Media Info

  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: p. 48-51
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00488777
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 31 1989 12:00AM