Saratoga Springs UT — Nix Construction

Nix Saratoga #1.jpeg — Hand Mine

Saratoga Springs UT

At the Intersection of Rocky and Steel...

When the Nix Team won the bid to complete the Grandview Boulevard Sewer Crossing project, we knew it would be a challenge. We had to install a sewer main underneath an existing intersection and a large PRV vault. Luckily, Team Nix has some of the hardest working and dedicated people, with a keen eye for precision.

This project required an installation of 280 LF of 27” diameter sewer main through a 4’ diameter tunnel. The Nix Team quickly realized our heavy-duty machinery could not help them out in this underground construction round because the tunnel terrain was straight rock. The solution? They would dig the tunnel by hand. Teamwork was absolutely the answer to overcome this “rocky” obstacle, and Team Nix created an efficient process of timed work, trading off digs at 2-hour intervals. This wasn’t our longest tunnel by a long shot, but it was 200 LF of 48” jacked steel casing on a very flat grade; challenge accepted!

The rock varied from 6 - 18” thick at depths between 20 - 25 ft deep on a 0.12% grade. To install the 27” diameter sewer line, our team dug, jack-hammered, and chipped at the rock to allow the installation. Accommodating for the flat grade, our team diligently monitored it using a laser, and steering corrections were achieved by skillful excavation of the tunnel heading. This “encouraged” the casing to maintain the line and grade, and was completed with zero deviation. Not only did our team expertly navigate this challenging situation, but they also kept in communication with the community to keep them and their children safe. This job was completed on time, within the budget, and Team Nix developed a great relationship with the City of Saratoga Springs who started referring to this as their “easy” job, because Team Nix made it look that easy.

As founder Claude H. Nix says, “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” True to Claude’s form, Nix Construction is always up for the challenge and this job went on to win the AGC Utility Project of the Year ($500,000 to $5 Million) in 2020. If you need a deceivingly “rocky” job done and you don’t know who to hire, now you know of us. Give us a call and we’d be happy to make those difficult jobs you have look easy.

Curious about the job? View the project video here.