ASCE Anchorage Branch November 2025 Luncheon

18,000 LF of HDD Sewer Force Main Installation in Valdez, Alaska (Design, Construction, Lessons Learned)

Abstract: This presentation will explore the design, construction and lessons learned from the installation of approximately 18,000 linear feet of 20-inch HDPE sewer force main using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) in Valdez, Alaska as part of a sewer infrastructure replacement project. The alignment traversed highly sensitive environmental areas, including regulated wetlands and anadromous fish-bearing streams, necessitating a carefully coordinated approach to design, permitting, and construction.

Key topics will include the strategic selection of HDD as the preferred trenchless technology to minimize surface disturbance and environmental impacts. The presentation will highlight how early collaboration with environmental agencies and the Alaska Department of Transportation led to the selection of HDD as the preferred installation technology.

Attendees will gain insight into the technical challenges encountered—such as difficult subsurface conditions, Alaska weather impacting construction, and timing requirements due to fish habitat permitting.

By sharing lessons learned from this complex force main installation, this presentation will provide practical guidance for engineers, construction managers, and public agencies undertaking HDD projects in environmentally constrained areas.

Presenter: Russ Porter is a licensed professional engineer and graduate of the University of Wyoming, bringing 18 years of engineering experience, including 17 years working throughout Alaska. He specializes in trenchless technology and its application to underground utility systems. Outside of his professional endeavors, Russ enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, mountain biking, and embracing Alaska’s many adventures.