The Great Lakes Water Authority awarded the Ric-Man|Clark Joint Venture the $93-million installation of an 8-mile long, 54-inch diameter freshwater pipeline to provide a transmission main loop to their existing 14 mile system. The project increased redundancy on this branch of the system and provided a fill line to the existing Haggerty Reservoir. Installation of the new pipeline was completed over a two-year period, utilizing opencut installations at depths ranging from 15 to 35 feet below grade.

Work commenced at the existing Haggerty Pump Station, located in the city of Farmington Hills, and transitioned southward through the cities of Novi, Northville, and Livonia at the Loop final connection point at 8 Mile Road utilizing hot taps under live, high-pressure conditions.

The pipeline route of installation crossed major highways and throughways, where high round-the-clock traffic volumes under or adjacent to MDOT highways could not be interrupted and there were at least eight other jurisdictional agencies with project oversight to coordinate and comply with. To address this, seven strategically located micro tunnels were constructed to provide continuity and hydraulic conductivity to the Loop. At locations where native ground formation was unsuitable to support the pipe, 500 friction micro piles were drilled from grade to provide the necessary support foundation of the infrastructure.

Seven deep installation of sectionalizing valve vaults were cast-in-place to allow for the installation of large isolation, vacuum and air release valves. A cathodic protection system was installed for the steel pipe to prevent the long-term material corrosion and hence increase lifespan of the pipe and associated valving. Demolition and reconstruction of approximately 4½ miles of roadways and bike paths was also be completed in the I-275 and I-96 MDOT right of ways, including enhanced subgrade, asphalt paving and striping, connecting culverts, landscape restoration, and planting 2,500 mature trees.