The HDD Company completed a landmark 3,587-foot, 50-inch diameter intersect crossing beneath the Kennebec River in West Forks, Maine. This crossing was part of Avangrid’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project — a cross-border transmission line project providing 1,200 MW of clean power from Canadian renewables.
The Kennebec Crossing was a critical path installation, executed 75 feet below the river through silty sand, bedrock, fractured limestone and gravel.
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The project’s technical centerpiece was the pullback of a bundle of six 10-inch FPVC pipes through an uncased hole — a feat never before accomplished at this scale. The HDD Company fastened the pipe bundle to a custom-designed pullhead and arranged it across an array of cranes and rollers. This setup accommodated the variances in terrain and space limitations at the laydown area, allowing the pipe bundle to endure the rigors of the long-distance pull.
The remote work site was battered by historical polar vortex storms, complicating logistics and resupply efforts. Additionally, the area was a key destination for adventure tourists and a vital source of local revenue, making it especially important to limit the project footprint. A technically demanding compound curve design added to the necessity for extreme precision.
These challenges necessitated meticulous planning and execution, with the team collaborating on every aspect of the pullback.
The HDD Company overcame environmental, logistical, and technical complexities to complete this critical crossing within the NECEC project. The pipe bundle’s successful installation met Avangrid’s stringent requirements and set a new benchmark for trenchless technology in complex geological conditions.
The HDD Company was proud to be teamed with Campos EPC, Inrock, and local pipeline contractor BluRock. The project’s success highlights the power of collaboration, innovative design, and The HDD Company’s decades of experience in remote, high-stakes pipeline projects
The HDD Company overcame environmental, logistical, and technical complexities to complete this critical crossing within the NECEC project. The pipe bundle’s successful installation met Avangrid’s stringent requirements and set a new benchmark for trenchless technology in complex geological conditions.
The HDD Company was proud to be teamed with Campos EPC, Inrock, and local pipeline contractor BluRock. The project’s success highlights the power of collaboration, innovative design, and The HDD Company’s decades of experience in remote, high-stakes pipeline projects
