Columbus, GA
6th Avenue Flood Abatement
Scope/Solutions
Bounded on three sides by rivers and creeks, the City of Columbus faced the potential of major flooding. Foley Products Company asked SGH to design precast concrete box culverts for stormwater management. The city’s long-term drainage plan implemented 8,350 lf of precast concrete box culverts in sizes ranging from 8 ft by 6 ft to 14 ft by 12 ft. SGH recommended a configuration that delivered the right hydraulic capacity while minimizing disruption to downtown Columbus.
Our work to support the contractor’s efforts included:
- Design of precast concrete box culverts in accordance with ASTM and American Association of State
- Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards
- Evaluation of proposed nonstandard thin-walled box sections
- Design of reinforcing steel to satisfy the design loads
- Development of seven reinforcing designs for earth fill heights ranging from 2 ft to 12 ft
- Delivery of stamped reinforcing designs for the culvert sections
Our efficient and cost-effective precast concrete box culvert designs:
- Accommodated limitations of contractor’s on-site equipment and work areas
- Facilitated installation with lifting pins for unloading largest boxes safely and easily
- Supported just-in-time scheduling
- Lowered weight without compromising strength:
- Reduced thickness by 16-33%
- Decreased weight of each section by 25%
- Removed 5,000 lbs from standard designs
Project Summary
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures | Advanced Analysis | Performance & Code Consulting
Markets
Infrastructure & Transportation
Client(s)
Foley Products Company
Specialized Capabilities
Marine & Civil Works | Buried Infrastructure | Risk & Resilience Assessment
Key team members

Additional Projects
Southeast
Mobile Press Register
The owner wanted to protect their critical equipment from flooding during extreme events to avoid significant interruption to business operations and production. SGH evaluated requirements and developed flood protection options.
Southeast
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority
In 2010, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority (MDWSA) instituted a continuous inspection and repair program for their 48 in. to 96 in. dia. prestressed concrete cylinder pipes (PCCP). With brief periods to perform repairs and field conditions (e.g., high groundwater levels) making pipe replacement difficult, MDWSA preferred to implement internal repairs on selected distressed pipe pieces. Over the years, SGH has analyzed failure risk, designed repairs for more than 100 MDWSA pipes, and provided field engineering services during repairs.