Technical Description:
- Product: Slotted Drain™, 14 GA
- Diameter: 12-inch
- Length: 845 LF
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In 2017, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) began working on improvements to Interstate 65 in Shelby County. This included the widening of the interstate for a 3.5-mile stretch, turning it from a four-lane interstate into a six-lane roadway. The improvement project would also increase shoulder space along the northbound and southbound lanes to easily allow more lanes to be added in the future. According to the ALDOT, more than 93,000 vehicles travel the section of roadway each day, with more than 12,000 of those being tractor trailers. Infrastructure improvements are extremely important, as they can directly impact economic development. Increasing the traffic capacity and alleviating the congested portion of I-65 allowed for continued growth and development for Shelby County.
In order to provide for the additional sheet flow inherent with the increased impervious surface of the expansion, a surface runoff solution was needed. ALDOT and the consulting engineer, Stantec Consulting, worked with Contech Engineered Solutions to identify the best option. Having used Contech Slotted Drain on previous projects, ALDOT had found it to be an efficient way to remove sheet flow conditions. As a result, they determined that Contech Slotted Drain would, again, be optimal in the widening project as it could handle the increased sheet flow most efficiently along the median barrier wall.
Batey and Sanders, the local supplier, quickly delivered the Contech Slotted Drain to the site. At which time, Abramson, LLC installed 845 LF of the 12-inch diameter, 14 gage Slotted Drain parallel with the edge of the barrier wall along the median of the highway. The work was overseen by the general contractor, Dunn Construction, after which the Slotted Drain system was graded by Chilton Contractors. Slotted Drain does not require grades to be sloped in four directions from each storm collection grate, rather only one transverse and one longitudinal slope are needed for the entire drainage area. This allowed the contractor to install the system with fewer collectors and fewer laterals for a much more efficient solution that provides a practical, aesthetically pleasing inlet for the removal of surface water.
Technical Description:
- Product: Slotted Drain™, 14 GA
- Diameter: 12-inch
- Length: 845 LF
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