Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Delivering MSD’s First Ever Design-Build Project while Overcoming Record Flooding
Upgrading Essential System-wide Infrastructure
Alberici performed major upgrades to key components of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s (MSD) aging flood control and storm sewer system. This challenging project included upgrades of two pump stations and an emergency flood control structure. Located along the Mississippi River, these facilities are instrumental in protecting the St. Louis metropolitan area from flooding and regulating the city’s nearly 3,000-mile-long storm sewer system.
Collaboration and Creativity
Concerned about the project’s complexity and critical schedule constraints, MSD opted to procure the project using design-build delivery for the first time in the district’s history. Alberici’s selection for this important role was a result of our track record of success with MSD, vast local resources, and proven experience on complex water and wastewater projects. Alberici collaborated closely with MSD and our design partners to develop innovations that safely improved schedule performance and increased system functionality without increasing overall costs.
Innovation Overcomes Record Flood Levels
Despite some of the highest and longest sustained flooding in the recorded history of the Mississippi River, Alberici kept the project safely on schedule using a variety of innovative construction techniques. These included a moveable cofferdam solution consisting of temporary overhead hoists that allowed for construction to occur without interruption during high water events. Even when the river reached near-record flood stage of 46 feet, Alberici was able to use divers to move the diversion structure sequentially between each gate and safely secure it underwater.