Garney and James River Crossing team set world record
Jun 2024
Newport News, Virginia – In early May, Garney and the rest of the James River Crossing (JRX) team achieved a groundbreaking milestone by completing the longest pullback of a 42-inch HDPE pipe. In a remarkable feat of teamwork and craftsmanship, crews successfully pulled a 5,700-foot pipeline with the assistance of a pipe pusher under the Newport News shipping channel—the sixth busiest port in the U.S.—in roughly 24 hours.
This monumental task was a critical component in the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) program, an innovative water treatment initiative, aimed at ensuring groundwater sustainability and enhancing water quality for the Chesapeake Bay region. The newly installed pipeline will connect the new Boat House Pump Station with the Nansemond Treatment Plant on the opposite bank of the James River.
The operation began with the fully fused pipeline being towed across the James River, escorted by marine police for safety. Once across, the pipeline was positioned for the land-to-water pullback. Crews used a pipe pusher on a platform in the water to thread the pipe and engage it throughout the pullback process. This novel technology was instrumental in reducing the pull forces on the million-pound landside drill rig, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation without overstressing the pipe.
The force main pipeline is essential to the SWIFT program’s goals of replenishing the Potomac Aquifer and improving water treatment processes to meet new nutrient targets for drinking water. Previously, treated wastewater was discharged into the James River. With the new pipeline, this water will now be transported to the Nansemond Treatment Plant for additional processing, increasing HRSD’s drinking water capacity. This process will enable HRSD to dispense 120 million gallons per day (MGD) of purified water into the Potomac Aquifer, ensuring the sustainability of groundwater resources for current and future use in Eastern Virginia.
Vista Ridge Recognized Internationally, Winning Top Water Awards
Apr 2017
APRIL 2017 – As the largest privately financed water project to close in North America to date, Vista Ridge has received top honors on a global platform. The $927 million project will support the construction of a well field, pump stations, 142-mile water pipeline, and terminus site carried out by the Vista Ridge consortium led by Garney P3 with the construction contract executed by Garney Construction.
Vista Ridge was named North America Water Deal of the Year by IJGlobal and Project Finance International (PFI). Both organizations celebrate industry excellence on a global scale, with IJ Global recognizing the best in energy and infrastructure and PFI honoring project finance professionals. Garney accepted the awards on February 1 in London and March 15 in New York.
On April 24, Vista Ridge was awarded Water Deal of the Year by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) in Madrid, Spain. Vista Ridge was up against three impressive competitors: a desalinization plant in Aqaba, Jordan; a sea-water reverse osmosis plant in Oman; and, a water treatment plant in the Bulcan Province of the Philippines.
International attention on Vista Ridge developed when the original equity partner encountered financial difficulties and Garney stepped up to assume a leadership position. San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply Project remains a critical project for helping San Antonio secure their water future. Vista Ridge will expand San Antonio’s water supply by 20 percent, decreasing pressure on the sensitive Edwards Aquifer, which is subject to federal, state, and regional pumping regulations.
Water supply is expected to flow by 2020, complementing SAWS’ continued conservation efforts and development of water resources as San Antonio adds an additional one million residents by 2040.
“Vista Ridge, Garney P3, and Garney Construction are all humbled by the international recognition associated with this momentous P3 project,” said Scott Parrish, Chief Operating Officer of Garney Construction. “We look forward to successfully delivering this project on time and on budget to do our part in helping secure San Antonio’s water future.”
Nashville Crews Work Around the Clock on Cumberland City Low Water Main
Apr 2017
APRIL 2017 – In an already booming population growth, utility infrastructure in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, is on the rise. In an effort to stay ahead of this growth, Metro Water Services (Metro) uses a water distribution system model to establish a Water Master Growth Plan for future improvements needed within the system.
Projecting growth models is paramount in serving Metro’s 187,000 customers. Metro’s water system is comprised of two water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 180 million gallons per day (MGD) and a distribution system containing more than 3,000 miles of waterlines.
The Cumberland City Low Transmission Water Main was developed to eliminate possible future water pressure and flow problems. The $32.9 million project is the largest monetary water main project Metro has undertaken in more than 30 years.
Garney crews are working 24 hours per day to install 27,000 LF of 10″ to 60″ ductile iron water main through major intersections in Nashville. This water main will provide the first phase of the replacement waterline to the K. R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant and will provide a redundant water main to the east side of the Stones River. Construction also includes 460 LF of 48″ and 60″ RCP stormwater pipe, 290 LF of 36″ ball and socket ductile iron pipe, dewatering for the Stones River crossing, 120 LF of 96″ horizontal directional drill liner plate tunnel under a railroad track, a tie-in to an existing 60″ PCCP water main, rock excavation, and several water service connections.
Multiple routing alternatives were evaluated and compared, with consideration given to numerous criteria including environmental, legal, water quality, permitting, property acquisition, constructability, cost, schedule, and overall impact to Metro’s customers. The selected route provided the best flow conditions and shortened the water age in the distribution system.
“Garney has further worked with Metro and design engineer, Gresham, Smith and Partners, to tremendously minimize traffic disruption on Lebanon Road and Donelson Pike,” said Cyrus Toosi, Assistant Director of Engineering at Metro Water Services. “Garney is also playing a large role in an extensive public outreach program, interfacing with residents and businesses to minimize disruption.”
Garney Reaches Financial Close on Vista Ridge Water Supply Project
Nov 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 — Financial close has been reached on the Vista Ridge Water Supply Project, allowing Garney to begin overseeing the design, construction, and financing of a 142-mile pipeline. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, the 142-mile pipeline is a critical project for San Antonio as it will deliver 16.3 billion gallons of water to the rapidly growing community.
The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) board voted unanimously to consent to the financial close. Garney will continue to assume the regulatory, financial, and construction risk of the project. This public-private partnership (P3) venture is a significant milestone for Garney. It signifies Garney’s ability to invest in the financial and logistical requirements to undertake the $927 million program.
Vista Ridge will expand San Antonio’s water supply by 20 percent, decreasing pressure on the sensitive Edwards Aquifer, which is subject to federal, state and regional pumping regulations. SAWS is a national leader in water conservation, and the Vista Ridge pipeline will complement SAWS’ continued conservation efforts and development of other water resources as San Antonio adds one million residents by 2040.
Construction is set to begin in early 2017 and last through 2019, with water flowing in early 2020. SAWS and its customers will only pay for the water that actually makes it to San Antonio. After 30 years, in 2050, SAWS would own the pipeline.
“Achieving financial close is a huge milestone and development of this important project,” said Scott Parrish, Chief Operating Officer of Garney Construction. “Our team is ready to commence construction and be in a position to deliver water to San Antonio in 2020.”
Garney Pacific Lands Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project
Jan 2016
JANUARY 2016 — California American Water selected Garney Pacific to construct the majority of its $92 million desalination pipeline network. Concurrently with two other water pipeline contractors, Garney Pacific will construct 22 miles of pipelines, pump stations and storage facilities along the Monterey Peninsula to deliver desalinated water to 100,000 residential and commercial customers. Garney Pacific, a subsidiary of Garney Holding Co., was established in 2015 to focus operations on constructing water and wastewater projects in Northern California.
The Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project will include a source water intake system, a 9.6 MGD or 6.4 MGD desalination plant, brine discharge system, product water conveyance pipelines and storage facilities, and an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system. Once complete, the new network will replace reliance on the Carmel River as a primary source of water supply. With schedule and budget as primary drivers in the qualifications-based selection process, California American Water will conduct value engineering efforts with all three water pipeline contractors during the first half of 2016.
“The award of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project is a significant achievement for Garney Pacific and anchors our expansion into Northern California,” said Scott Parrish, Chief Operating Officer of Western Pipe Operations. “We look forward to continuing Garney’s tradition of excellence with this extremely important project, and we’re excited to exceed California American Water’s expectations, and to perpetuate Garney’s reputation, goals, and philosophies.”
Bill E. Williams, Director of Northern California Operations, and Kevin Downs, Operations Manager, are spearheading Garney’s involvement on the project. Matt Roberts, who served as the Lead Estimator in the pursuit phase, will also contribute to Garney’s value engineering efforts on the project.
For more information on the project, visit the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project website.