So this site im working doesnt allow trencher, augers, and more than likely vib. plows.

I just found out 5 minutes ago they dont allow trenchers and if they dont allow trenchers they arent going to allow plows.

I started digging my main line yesterday with a bobcat e32 excavator 12in bucket. I was orginally planning on using a excavator for the main due to a few places i need to have a deep (3ft ish ) open pit. Also that much of the area i am digging in is pure gravel and was a deep heavily rocked construction road and lay down area. (once i get a foot or so down the rock lessens and is more clay than rock, so far. But i have been pulling up nice size 6-10inch chunks of concrete and asphalt ) Also after locates i have a dozen or so conduits that came in shallower than i thought they would be, so i have to dig carefully with the machine and shovel to expose them.

I planned to do the laterals with a vib. plow but if it had problems go to a trencher.

Two issues.

1. I cant get a nice flat trench (ground is to hard). So im thinking im going to have to bed the trench with sand. Lay the pipe and backfill with excavated material. I didnt have bedding with sand in my bid, never had to do it before.
What are your guys opinions / recommendations for this?
2. Since i just found out i cant use a trencher or plow i dont know what im going to do for the laterals. Digging all of this with a ex. is massive PITA.
Ideas, Comments, Concerns.

Theres more to this but what i wrote covers most of it.

They told you what you could use AFTER you bid it?

Rebid

I don't understand not allowing a trencher but an ex is ok

Please elaborate on that
Can't wrap my head around what's going on here

 

Yes. We got the contract for landscaping 526 trees and shrubs, irrigation 15k ft+ of pipe and hydroseeding. We Bid planning on using an auger, trenches, plow, and excavator.

These pieces of equipment except excavator were banned a couple weeks ago.

The way we think this is going to work is we will have to do a change order for all the extra work it will take.

Approved methods of excavation are vacuum excavation and excavators.

They consider these methods exploratory. Mean with a excavator your more likely to discover a utility before it is completely destroyed. (Ex. Apparently someone wrapped 100k+ of fiber around an auger on one of the owners sites)

 

These pieces of equipment except excavator were banned a couple weeks ago.

He said the decision to ban was made a couple of weeks ago. That is why he is using the Change Order process to charge for the change. I think he is just looking for ideas on the best way to get this done to minimize the expense.

 

This should have been disclosed at the pre-bid meeting or announced to each participant before bidding.

 

Bid was awarded 3 months ago

 

I like excavators with a narrow bucket, you can cut and glue sitting down! Sand backfilling is common up north where, (even with 160/200 poly or sch 40/80) , the pipes could get trashed by rocky conditions. :waving:

 

Change order they get to set their price and keep the contract.

 

time for a smaller bucket... thought i'll say this I have a 9 they tend to plug up a bit more than the bigger units

 

So your recommending a 9?

So the smallest I could get was a 12 I'm going to get a bigger machine Monday im going to see if they have a 9.
Although a 12 is nice cause I don't really have to dig much more to fit boxes over the main

 

I have 3 buckets for mine. The smaller one is great for trenches because it’s less to backfill etc. To me a smaller machine for irrigation lines is more efficient but I’m usually doing residential work. If your wide open have as it with the big one.

 

I have 3 buckets for mine. The smaller one is great for trenches because it's less to backfill etc. To me a smaller machine for irrigation lines is more efficient but I'm usually doing residential work. If your wide open have as it with the big one.

My issue is how hard the ground is.
On your small bucket what kinda teeth are u using?

 

Yes. We got the contract for landscaping 526 trees and shrubs, irrigation 15k ft+ of pipe and hydroseeding. We Bid planning on using an auger, trenches, plow, and excavator.

These pieces of equipment except excavator were banned a couple weeks ago.

The way we think this is going to work is we will have to do a change order for all the extra work it will take.

Approved methods of excavation are vacuum excavation and excavators.

They consider these methods exploratory. Mean with a excavator your more likely to discover a utility before it is completely destroyed. (Ex. Apparently someone wrapped 100k+ of fiber around an auger on one of the owners sites)

Utilities can be marked and it's federal law to do so.

Gas and electric are also buried deeper than irrigation lines.

If it wasn't stipulated in the RFP OR CONTRACT then they may mo money or you no workey

 

This site has no gas and all utilities on this site are located by onsite contractors. 12 conduits have been located in my path most between 1'6" and 2'4" the shallowest one is live with 480v. I pretty much am forced expose them so I know exactly how deep they are.

 

I'm not as concerned about the money. I'm trying to figure out how to get things done efficiently with out the normal equipment

 

How about just a quick little machine use here and there. Heheheh What Mamma doesn't know... Who's going to enforce this anyways

 

This job sounds like a major pain in the a s s

 

It's is! I really want to dig the main line and laypipe and pull all the Individual #14 valve wires . Then pressure test and bury. It's becoming an issue cause it keeps raining. Plus I have to barricade open trenches.

 

Also nobody has answered my question. Because I can't get a flat even trench, should I bed it with sand?

 

These are the jobs I add the “Acapulco” fee too, price the job for profit plus a trip to Acapulco, that I’m sure it ends up being someone else’s problem!

Or if I get it, at least I’m going to Acapulco!

 

With as much of a pita this job is for you, I'd probably skip bedding it in sand and just keep the bigger rocks away on backfill...

I've got a lot of hdpe in the ground here at my place and the majority of it is in rocky ground without sand and no problems yet...

 

Ya but this is all cl200 pvc