A 48-inch diameter line was re-routed around the former Memorial Auditorium at the Buffalo Inner Harbor. Temporary excavation support for the waterline consisted of a soldier pile and wood lagging system designed by HFD. A thrust block was necessary at one of the bends in the waterline to accommodate the hydraulic forces associated with the bend. HFD retained McMahon & Mann to design the waterline support at the bend in the pipe.

We reviewed the subsurface information and prepared design plans for this section of the shoring wall and the thrust block. The thrust block consists of steel soldier piles with a steel waler. Two high strength tieback anchors that extend into bedrock, provide the required lateral support for the thrust block. The anchors were tested and met the project specifications. After testing, the anchors were pre-tensioned to limit movements during operation of the waterline.