Project: Utility Cover Overhaul

a large scale project involving the replacement of hundreds of aging manhole covers around the greater Seattle area. The goals of the project were to increase safety for pedestrians and to reduce hassle for utility crews.

The existing covers were installed in the 1950’s and were beginning to present a safety concern for pedestrian traffic. Also weighing nearly 600 LBS, they were difficult for utility workers to open and access, requiring a chain or machine to lift them. A light-weight solution was preferred to remedy the challenge of maneuvering the heavy covers.

around the city, plans did not include a full tear out of the existing manhole cover structure. Rather, the existing frames in the ground would be left in place to reduce the cost and scale of the project. The new covers would need to be retrofitted to lay into the existing manhole cover frames.

sidewalks and off the road, they were still required to be H-20 load rated. It was also required that the material used for the new covers be sent out for slip skid tests to ensure the material is approved for heavy foot traffic areas in wet environments.

our team custom engineered these unique replacement covers with our composite fiberglass manhole covers set into custom sized retro-fitting adapter frames, designed to fit precisely into the existing frames, fitting snug and sitting flush with grade.

partial shipments were preferred so the warehouse would not have to wait for the full order to be received before they could distribute them among their crews to begin construction. Partial shipments were arranged to enable the construction teams to begin installations as soon as possible.

marry the demands of high scale production with meeting the needs and timetables of our customers. Give us a call to see what we can do for you!