County Materials Celebrates Resilient, Long-Lasting Community Infrastructure During Concrete Pipe Week
As part of Concrete Pipe Week, a national observance recognizing the significance of concrete pipe to community quality of life, County Materials is proud to highlight our involvement in many local and national infrastructure projects.
When communities invest in concrete pipe, they’re investing in infrastructure that’s built to last, providing long-term peace of mind and economic value. Concrete pipe won’t burn, rust, tear, buckle, or release micro-plastics into the environment, and it can remain in service for up to 100 years with minimal maintenance. Concrete pipe is factory tested to ensure its strength and rigidity can withstand elements over a prolonged service life without the need for additional maintenance, making it the preferred choice of engineers and contractors.
The following projects demonstrate the engineered strength, proven resilience, and undeniable sustainability of concrete pipe.
Copper Ridge Housing Development
The paving contractor for the Copper Ridge Housing Development originally planned to use polypropylene pipe with the goal of reducing the overall cost of the project, but after reevaluation, the contractor chose reinforced concrete pipe from County Materials due to its proven strength and reliability. Unlike flexible pipe materials, concrete pipe does not require deflection testing following installation. For this project, the contractor realized that if even one section of pipe failed the test, the replacement effort would set the project timeline back and increase the project cost.
Stillwater Road Reconstruction
When community officials planned an update project for Stillwater Road, an important commercial street in the small lakeside town of Mahtomedi, Minnesota, they took advantage of the street opening to upsize the community’s underground utilities and make drainage improvements. Specifying County Materials’ round and elliptical reinforced concrete pipe allowed for significant time savings without sacrificing durability and performance.
I-65/I-70 Interchange Reconstruction
The I-65/I-70 Interchange in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the most heavily traveled interstate interchanges in the country. When the city of Indianapolis undertook the major project to rebuild the interchange, they sought high-strength, long-lasting solutions that would offer maximum performance and versatility. County Materials’ reinforced concrete pipe, concrete box culverts, and precast components proved an ideal fit for this ambitious design-build project. The company manufactured and delivered more than 24,650 LF of RCP, nearly 400 feet of concrete box culverts, and more than 750 precast structures, including inlets, end caps, and manholes, to the job site as they were needed.
I-44 Reconstruction Project
The effect of increasing traffic demands on aged infrastructure in the I-44 corridor near St. Louis prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to initiate an expansive three-year reconstruction project that would improve the area’s traffic flow and reduce the risk of accidents. To prepare the site for the project, a concrete culvert system was required to address recurring flooding issues.
Initially, MoDOT specified the use of a cast-in-place concrete culvert system; however, the project contractor recognized the time and cost advantages of using precast components in an active river setting and encouraged MoDOT to modify the specification. County Materials’ Bonne Terre, MO plant manufactured and supplied a specially designed 140-foot 5’ x 5’ box culvert to meet the demands of this project.
County Materials recognizes the dedication and hard work of our team members who play an important role in manufacturing and delivering concrete solutions. We are proud to support the development of safe, long-lasting underground infrastructure.
