News

Norman Joyal’s CSM Method Paper Gains International Attention
February 08, 2010 - Edited versions of Norman Joyal’s Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM) Method paper have recently been featured in Trenchless International Magazine and Trenchless Australasia Magazine. The paper, titled “Microtunnel Jacking and Receiving Shafts Constructed Using Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM) Technology,” was presented at the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) Conference in 2009 and will be presented at the No Dig Conference in 2010. The paper refers to Contra Costa Water District’s Alternative Intake Project (AIP), which is the second known project in the U.S. to use the new CSM technology to build microtunneling shafts.
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Lenihan Dam Outlet Tunnel Wins Another Award!
January 11, 2010 - The Lenihan Dam Outlet Modifications project was selected as a Special Recognition Winner of the 2010 Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America.
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Jacobs Associates Awarded Central Interceptor Programme in Auckland!
December 07, 2009 - Jacobs Associates is part of the Principal Engineering Advisor team led by AECOM New Zealand that recently won the Central Interceptor Programme for Watercare Services Ltd. The programme is in the initial options assessment stage now, with construction expected to be completed around 2025 for Phase 1. The Phase 1 system is primarily targeted at duplicating an existing aged sewer that is coming to the end of its effective operating life. Additional key issues to be addressed by the programme include trunk sewer capacity for growth and development, and mitigation of targeted combined sewer overflows.
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Lenihan Dam Outlet Tunnel Celebrates Completion
November 02, 2009 - The Lenihan Dam Outlet Modifications Project celebrated project completion in October 2009 with a “first flow” commissioning ceremony. The new outlet system had actually been in use for over a month at the time of the ceremony, but project completion could not be declared until the old outlet works were abandoned. On hand to celebrate the project completion were project team members, the Santa Clara Valley Water District board members, local news media, and a fifth grade class from a nearby elementary school. The event’s activities included speeches from board members, a presentation from the students, and the opening of the valves, permitting the near maximum flow of 360 cubic feet per second (10.19 m³/sec).
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TBM Lowered at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel
October 8, 2009 - The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that will be used to mine the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel (NCSBT) was lowered into its launch shaft on September 30, 2009. The single shield TBM and trailing gear are 155 feet long. The main body is 12'-2" in diameter with a taper to its tail shield, which is 11'-11" in diameter because of the potential to encounter squeezing ground. Hitachi-Zosen fabricated the cutterhead and shield, Rotek provided the main bearing, and Herrenknecht fabricated the 17-inch disc cutters. M.L. Shank Co., Inc. designed the machine, and the Shank crew assembled it and built the trailing gear on the project site.
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Dan Dobbels Joins Jacobs Associates
October 01, 2009 - Dan Dobbels, PE, has joined Jacobs Associates as a Senior Associate in its Boston office. Mr. Dobbels has more than 25 years of experience in planning, design, and construction of a variety of underground engineering projects, including water/wastewater conveyance tunnels and pipelines; underground transit systems; electric, gas, and other utility tunnels and pipelines; hydroelectric facilities; rock slopes; waterfront structures; and deep foundations.
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Jacobs Associates Acquires Abey Structural
September 01, 2009 - Jacobs Associates is pleased to announce the acquisition of Keith Abey Structural Engineer, Inc., an Oakland-based structural engineering firm. The acquisition will help meet the demand for a structural interface with teaming partners such as architects and mechanical engineers, while expanding our expertise in structural engineering. Jacobs Associates’ Board of Directors approved the acquisition, which includes the purchase of firm assets and backlog of work.
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Cal Park Tunnel Holes Through
June 03, 2009 - The Cal Park Hill Tunnel project reached a major milestone when, on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, the tunnel holed through. The project has a dual focus: rehabilitation of the existing Cal Park railway tunnel for light rail, and construction inside the tunnel of a pedestrian/bike pathway. The refurbished tunnel will link the Marin County towns of Larkspur and San Rafael.
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Arrowhead Tunnels Project Nears Completion
May 21, 2009 - The Arrowhead Tunnels recently achieved a key milestone as this challenging project comes to completion. On April 29, the last pipe section to be installed in the Arrowhead Tunnels was delivered to the project site at Waterman Canyon in San Bernardino, California.
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Jacobs Associates Promotes Rafael Castro to Principal
May 05, 2009 - Rafael Castro, PE, has been promoted to Principal. Mr. Castro has been involved in the underground engineering industry for 20 years on more than a dozen major tunneling projects on both the East and West coasts. His progressive experience includes design, construction management, and condition assessment for sewage, water-conveyance, and transit tunnels.
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