April 2025 Vol. 80 No. 4
Features
UI Awards 2025: Top projects, technologies honored during Underground Infrastructure Conference
(UI) —The annual Underground Infrastructure Awards (UIA), the most comprehensive and prestigious program to recognize outstanding performance and technology for the entire underground infrastructure industry, revealed the winners are a special recognition dinner held in conjunction with the Underground Infrastructure Conference on March 4.
Sponsored by Underground Infrastructure magazine, the UIAs are designed to reward the people and organizations for their incredible performances in the underground infrastructure markets.
Sewer Project of the Year – Central Regional Wastewater System (CRWS) MC (Mountain Creek)-7 and MC-8 Relief Interceptor project (Trinity River Authority): To address aging infrastructure and increased wastewater demand from Grand Prairie, one of Texas's fastest-growing cities, the Trinity River Authority initiated the Central Regional Wastewater System Mountain Creek-7 and MC-8 Relief Interceptor project. The six-year, $25.6 million project upgraded wastewater infrastructure to enhance capacity, improve resilience, and ensure environmental sustainability. The project replaced over 20,000 linear feet of aging interceptor pipelines with diameters ranging from 69 to 84 inches through a densely developed corridor.
Emerging Technology of the Year – PipeSense’s PipeSentry Suite of Products: From real-time advanced pipeline leak detection and identifying pre-existing pipeline leaks during operation to real-time hydrotest leak location and pig location tracking, PipeSense has a series of solutions as part of its PipeSentry suite of products.
Fiber Project of the Year – Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion & Fiber Optic Deployment: The Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) fiber optic scope represents the world’s longest fiber optic sensing deployment on a multi-product liquids pipeline at 746 miles. As part of the project design, Trans Mountain partnered with Hifi Engineering to incorporate the ambitious deployment of an extensive hybrid fiber optic network consisting of a large telecommunications fiber cable coupled with Hifi’s specialized optical sensing fiber and dual micro duct conduit secured to the pipe.
Environmental Awareness – Environmental Awareness: CIPP and Styrene: Presented to Dennis Pivin, CSP is the Director of Health, Safety and Environmental for the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO), for the organization’s work to developed relationships, collaborate and share knowledge on the topic of potential health and environmental impact associated with styrene used in the cured-in-place pipe process.
Asset Management Project of the Year – Mary Rhodes Pipeline Ph 1 Condition Assessment Project: HDR performed the first condition assessment of the 101-mile, 64-inch diameter Mary Rhodes Pipeline Phase 1 which conveys over half of the city of Corpus Christi's water supply during an extended drought. The structural integrity of the pipeline was found to be in good condition, but multiple pipeline threats were identified and were corrected or are in the process of being corrected.
Water Project of the Year – West Harris County Regional Water Authority - Segment C2: The successful construction of West Harris County Regional Water Authority's (WHCRWA) and North Fort Bend Water Authority's (NFBWA) Surface Water Supply Project (SWSP) Segment C2 was a crucial start to the larger SWSP program, which includes over 55 miles of large diameter pipeline and two large pump stations.
Underground Infrastructure’s Benefactor Award – Dr. Mohammad Najafi received this special honor. He is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
Rising Star – This award was bestowed upon Dean Gettman, Platinum Contracting of Nevada.
Rehabilitation Project of the Year – Large Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation Project, Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District: This large diameter sewer rehabilitation project leveraged its design-build team to assess, prioritize, design and implement repairs to aging underground infrastructure with a customized set of collaborative solutions developed for each of the distinct sewers.
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