When Mobile Area Water & Sewer Authority (“MAWSS”) wanted to install an additional twenty (20”) inch water main to Pinto Island, an area known for its ship building and port activities, S J & L was chosen to perform this work. As Pinto Island is on the east side of the Mobile River and the pumping stations are on the west side of the river, the most direct route was to install the new main beneath the channel bottom of the river. The decision to install the new main via a directional bore was made due to the environmentally sensitive nature of Mobile River coupled with the fact that it is the only entrance to the Port of Mobile and is heavily traveled by cargo ships, the cruise line and numerous barges, which precluded an open cut approach. S J & L performed a 1,903 foot directional bore ranging in depth from five (5’) feet on each end to 150’ at its deepest point, which was one hundred (100’) feet below the river bottom.

Over the years, Mobile Infirmary, Mobile’s largest hospital, has expanded along with the growth of the City. Unable for the existing gravity sewer to handle the increased flow during peak periods and storm events, Mobile Area Water & Sewer Authority (“MAWSS”) decided to install a lift station at the north end of the property and run a dedicated force main to the interceptor line to combat these flows. S J & L was chosen to perform this work which included a directional bore beneath Three-Mile Creek, an eight (8’) foot diameter lift station twenty-four (24’) feet in depth and 142 LF of 24” ductile iron pipe to re-route the existing sewer system. In addition to working on the bank of the environmentally sensitive creek and dealing with significant groundwater, S J & L had to by-pass the existing eighteen (18”) sewer main while performing our work.