Design and planning of urban underground construction using pipe bursting techniques

Rehabilitation of our aging underground infrastructure continues to be of great concern resulting in the examination of alternative techniques to address this issue. One such construction technique rapidly gaining acceptance by municipalities across North America is pipe bursting. In comparison to conventional open cut techniques of pipe replacement, pipe bursting has many advantages. Experience has shown that, in almost all circumstances, pipe bursting provides a less expensive alternative to traditional open cut replacement, while increasing overall productivity. This paper describes considerations in designing and planning of pipe bursting operations. Factors including construction methods, pipe materials, and project site characteristics are addressed.