Steam plant resources will go
to fixing coroded steam pipes over the next few summers. The overdue
replacements will cost $8-10 million.
Deteriorated steam
pipes will mean a multi-phase, multi-million dollar on-campus repair
project.
Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm
said certain underground steam condensate lines used to heat buildings
on campus have suffered from corrosion over time and will need to
be replaced.
“The infrastructure of our campus is very
old, and this is something that is long overdue,” Helm said.
Helm said
the project would begin this summer, extending down Rivers Street
to Varsity Gymnasium and Rankin Science Building.
“It’s going to be something that you probably won’t
see, but it is very important,” Helm said.
Helm said without the repairs it is more costly to heat the campus
due to steam leakage in corroded pipes.
Director of Design and Construction Clyde D. Robbins said approximately
half of the moisture that comes out as steam is lost as a result
of the deterioration of the pipes.
Robbins said the corrosion is simply due to the age of the pipes.
“They’ve been in the ground so long,” Robbins said.
“In some places the pipes are totally corroded away.”
Robbins said infrared pictures were taken above the campus during
the winter. These pictures were used to find steam leaks in the
pipe system.
The overall project will total $8-10 million and be completed in
phases over the next few summers, Robbins said.
Helm said the project will be financed through a reserve associated
with bonds used to fund the steam plant.
Robbins said the first phase will begin this summer with a projected
cost of $4 million.
Patrick S. Brittain, assistant director of the Physical Plant and
project manager for the steam pipe replacement, said most of the
work this summer will be between Edwin Duncan Hall and the Rankin
Science Building.
“We’ll be fixing one of the bigger problems,” Britton
said.
Brittain said the problem is located around a manhole on the Rankin
side of the Rivers Street tunnel.
Other work near Rivers Street includes some pipes near the bridge
by Varsity Gymnasium.
A bit of the work will take place in the underground steam tunnels,
Brittain said.
Brittain said he does not anticipate any “major” traffic
problems associated with the steam pipe replacements along Rivers
Street.
“There may be some rerouting of pedestrian traffic around the
construction,” Brittain said.
Brittain said he hopes the project will begin following May’s
graduation ceremonies.
New lines will also be needed for the east campus dormitories but
will be postponed until the following summer, since construction
on the pipes cannot be done during the heating season, Brittain
said.
Brittain said other factors will weigh in and determine when the
project can be completed.
“We are limited by our manpower as to what we can get accomplished,”
Brittain said.
