The initial prioritized work was phased over five years to include sliplining 1,229 linear feet (LF) of the 66-inch pre-stressed concrete non-cylinder pipeline with a 61.5-inch steel pipe and open-cut replacement of 14,600 LF of 66-inch steel waterline for the most distressed pipe sections. The initial sections were located on a narrow shelf road at the base of a steep 1,000-foot-high slope and the Arkansas River.

This prestressed concrete pipe is unique in that there is no steel cylinder and the end connections are made with a steel spigot ring with an O-ring into the bell-by-bell pipe ends. Connections to steel pipe were made with a machined steel bell which mates to the steel spigot rings. The machined bell underwent multiple refinements over the years.

Due to the reliance on this water supply, the pipeline work took place during a two-month shutdown window during the fall.

Several complex project challenges were overcome while working within the remote mountainous areas for short two-month durations each year, including:

• The lack of original project record drawings for locating the pipe and joints
• Easement verification and locating benchmarks
• A significant geotechnical effort due to the rocky conditions
• Multiple railroad permits for work within railroad right-of-way (ROW) and crossings
• 1041 permitting with Chaffee County
• Coordination and maintaining access with property owners
• Yearly improvements for maintaining the five-mile-long access road
• Environmental permitting requirements due to nesting ospreys along the pipeline
• Permitting for a temporary bridge across the Arkansas River
• Early winter weather considerations at this elevation
• Successful restoration given the late season and unique altitude environment