How Restore Pipe Systems replaced nearly 200 feet of corroded steel gas line beneath a driveway with a continuous 1.5-inch HDPE gas pipe.
Project Overview
Restore Pipe Systems was called to address a leaking underground gas line serving a Utah school district office. The existing steel gas pipe ran nearly 200 feet beneath a driveway and connected to the building at two entry points.
The pipe had not been properly protected in vulnerable areas, allowing corrosion to develop from the outside in. Over time, the steel deteriorated and developed pinhole leaks, creating the need for a permanent replacement.
Instead of excavating the entire driveway, Restore Pipe Systems used trenchless pipe bursting to replace the deteriorated steel pipe with a new continuous 1.5-inch HDPE gas line. The gas service was shut down for only a few hours, allowing heat and water heating to be restored the same day.
For property owners, facility managers and commercial operators dealing with aging underground piping, Restore Pipe Systems provides trenchless pipe repair and replacement services in Utah designed to reduce excavation, property damage and downtime.
The Problem: Corroded Underground Steel Gas Line
The underground gas line presented several challenges:
- Nearly 200 feet of underground gas line needed replacement
- A significant portion of the line ran beneath an existing driveway
- The line served an active school district office
- Two separate entry points connected the line to the building
- External corrosion had created pinhole leaks in the steel pipe
- The existing pipe was no longer structurally reliable
- An extended gas shutdown would affect building heat and water heating
Traditional open-cut replacement would have required substantially more excavation, concrete removal and restoration along the driveway.
Why Pipe Bursting Was the Right Solution
Because the steel pipe was corroding from the outside in and was no longer structurally secure, rehabilitating the existing pipe was not the best option. CIPP lining was also not approved by the gas company for this application.
Restore Pipe Systems selected trenchless pipe bursting, a replacement method that uses the existing underground pipe path while installing a completely new pipe. This approach allowed the crew to avoid excavating the entire 200-foot route.
The Solution: Trenchless Gas Line Replacement
Day 1: Strategic Excavation and Preparation
The Restore Pipe Systems crew spent approximately half a day exposing only the sections of gas line required for the pipe bursting operation. Rather than trenching the full route, targeted access points were created.
Day 2: Nearly 200 Feet of New HDPE Gas Pipe Installed
The following morning, gas service was temporarily shut off. The crew cut the existing steel line and pulled a new single piece of 1.5-inch HDPE gas pipe through the existing underground pathway while the deteriorated steel pipe was displaced.
A tracer wire was installed with the new HDPE gas line so the underground pipe could be located in the future.
The replacement began in the morning and was completed that afternoon. Gas service was restored within hours, allowing the school district office to regain heat and hot water without an overnight shutdown.
Protecting the New Gas Line
Restore Pipe Systems also corrected conditions around the pipe to help protect the new installation. The crew:
- Installed new gas risers where the line passed through concrete
- Added protective bollards to reduce the risk of vehicle impact
- Installed tracer wire with the new HDPE gas pipe
- Re-poured concrete in affected areas
- Backfilled and restored the required excavation areas
- Reconnected the system so gas service could resume
The Result
Restore Pipe Systems successfully replaced nearly 200 feet of deteriorated underground steel gas pipe with a new continuous 1.5-inch HDPE line while minimizing excavation beneath the driveway.
Project Highlights
- Location: Utah
- Property Type: School district / institutional facility
- Project Type: Underground gas line replacement
- Method: Trenchless pipe bursting
- Existing Pipe: Corroded steel gas pipe
- New Pipe: 1.5-inch HDPE gas pipe
- Length: Nearly 200 feet
- Obstacle: Existing driveway
- Gas Shutdown: Only a few hours
- Outcome: Heat and water heating restored the same day
Why Trenchless Pipe Bursting Works for Difficult Underground Pipe Replacements
Pipe bursting can be an effective trenchless pipe replacement method when an existing underground pipe has deteriorated beyond the point where rehabilitation is appropriate. It is especially useful when a pipe runs beneath driveways, parking areas, concrete or other surfaces where full excavation would create significant disruption.
Restore Pipe Systems provides trenchless pipe repair and replacement throughout Utah. The appropriate method depends on the condition of the existing pipe, pipe material, access, application and utility requirements.
Property owners and facility managers can also explore Restore Pipe Systems’ full pipe repair services, Utah service areas and additional Restore Pipe Systems case studies to see how trenchless technology is being used on residential, commercial and institutional projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an underground gas line be replaced without digging up the entire driveway?
Depending on site conditions and utility requirements, trenchless pipe bursting may allow an underground pipe to be replaced using strategically located access points instead of excavating the entire length. On this Utah project, nearly 200 feet of gas line was replaced while avoiding a full-length driveway excavation.
2. What is pipe bursting?
Pipe bursting is a trenchless replacement method that installs a new pipe along the path of an existing underground pipe while the deteriorated pipe is displaced. It can be useful when the old pipe has lost structural integrity and needs to be fully replaced.
3. Can pipe bursting replace corroded steel pipe?
In suitable applications, pipe bursting can replace deteriorated underground piping. On this Utah school district project, the existing steel gas line had corroded from the outside and developed pinhole leaks. Restore Pipe Systems replaced it with a continuous 1.5-inch HDPE gas pipe.
4. Why wasn’t CIPP lining used?
The existing steel pipe had deteriorated to the point that it was no longer structurally secure, and CIPP was not approved by the gas company for this application. Because the pipe required complete replacement, pipe bursting was selected instead.
5. How long can a trenchless pipe bursting project take?
Timelines depend on pipe length, access, site conditions and the system being replaced. For this project, preparation took place on the first day and the replacement was completed the following day. The actual gas shutdown lasted only a few hours.
6. Who provides trenchless pipe bursting in Utah?
Restore Pipe Systems provides trenchless pipe bursting and other trenchless pipe repair and replacement services in Utah. The company evaluates each project to determine whether pipe bursting, CIPP or another trenchless method is appropriate for the existing pipe and site conditions.
Need an Underground Pipe Replaced in Utah?
If you have an aging, leaking, corroded or damaged underground pipe beneath a driveway, parking lot, concrete or another difficult-to-access area, Restore Pipe Systems can evaluate whether trenchless pipe replacement may be an option.
Contact Restore Pipe Systems for an evaluation or second opinion on your Utah underground pipe repair or replacement project.
