NEWS

Microtunneling Vertical Curves: New solutions- Jordan Bradshaw
Our own Jordan Bradshaw, Project Manager, offering new solutions for vertical curves in microtunneling projects. Featured in Trenchless Technology Magazine November 2023 issue. Trenchless Technology Nov 2023

Bradshaw becomes (ESOP) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Bradshaw is proud to announce the formation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This is one of the most significant business decisions we have made in our 40+ year history. At all levels of contact, our customers will be working with an employee owner, an individual who is vested in the success of the company and the service we provide.  ESOP announcement

Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. recognized at the Orlando NASTT No-Dig Show
Entrepreneur, engineer, contractor can all be described as who is Lester Bradshaw Jr. But contractor is where Les’s foundation began and where his heart lies. Les can be further described as one of the more unique individuals in this era of trenchless construction, as he is principally a microtunneler. However, that’s not where it all began.

Way back working with his father, Les was introduced to hand-mined tunneling work. He graduated into mechanical tunneling and auger boring. I purposely use the word graduated because Les notably is a civil engineering graduate from Georgia Tech and he also has an MBA from Harvard. He and his company Bradshaw Construction Corp. have advanced to be one of the foremost microtunneling contractors in the United States.

Always anxious to promote the development of microtunneling, he was a founding member of the North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA) and was its first chairman. He was a strong leader in the development of ASCE’s Microtunneling Guidelines.

Microtunneling has had numerous innovations since its first introduction to the United States in the 1980s. Curved microtunneling, pilot tube tunneling, hard rock tunneling, slurry muck removal, and longer drives are all now taking place and Les has been at the forefront of all of this.

Les will be formally recognized at the Orlando NASTT No-Dig Show in March. Our congratulations to Les for a most wonderful career.

Published by Bernard P. Krzys, Trenchless Technology

 Photo

Trenchless Technology Person of the Year - Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr.
Lester Bradshaw, Jr. took his first job underground when he was 14 years old. Fifty-two years later, he still loves to put on that hard hat and head below the surface with the soil under his dirty, worn work boots - following in the footsteps of his father, Lester Sr.  Read More

Bradshaw awarded Trenchless Technologies Finalist
Bradshaw Construction Corporation was selected by fellow contractors in recognition of their quality workmanship, ability to find timely and innovative solutions to unforeseen problems, cooperation with others on site, and client praise for the successful completion of the Paw Ellwood Project. Award

Oregon Avenue NW Sewer Rehabilitation Project - PROJECT OF THE YEAR Runner Up
DC Water is improving water quality in Washington, D.C., by replacing aging pipelines. The Oregon Avenue NW Sewer Rehabilitation project was constructed by Bradshaw Construction Corporation to replace and improve sewers near Rock Creek Park and Bingham Drive.  Read More

Bradshaw Launches MTBM in Ruskin, FL
Construction is underway for the South County RePump Station Project in Ruskin, FL. The MTBM is set to launch and all preparations have taken place. The project consists of approx. 1,055 linear feet of 48" steel casing for a 16" ductile iron carrier pipe to serve as a watermain. The ground cover is at a minimun 20 feet below the surface, passing under I-75.  

Bradshaw currently hiring Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) Operator.
Bradshaw Construction Corporation has immediate opening for an experienced Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) Operator for projects located in the Mid to Eastern United States. Experience operating Herrenknecht and/or RASA microtunnel boring machines required.  Position Description

Bradshaw Begins Construction in Wethersfield, CT
Bradshaw Construction Corporation has begun construction on a 60” microtunneling/conventional TBM project in Wethersfield, CT for 30” and 48” FRP sanitary sewer installations. 1,850’ LF of 60” steel casing will be installed over four drives with a Herrenknect AVN 1200 MTBM, with the longest drive totaling 850’ LF. Ground conditions for microtunneling operations will vary between dense sand, silty gravel and siltstone, with groundwater anticipated. An additional 650’ will be installed behind an Akkerman WM480 TBM in dry lean clay and silty sand with gravel.  

Bradshaw Begins Construction in Wampum, PA
Bradshaw Construction Corporation has begun construction on a project in Wampum, PA. The project consists of 1,531 feet of 2-pass microtunneling in three tunnels. Casing size is 60” and 75.4” with several lines of carrier pipe installed within. Subsurface conditions are expected to range from alluvium and residual soil to partially and unweathered hard rock and mixed face.  

Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. named interim Chairman of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA)
Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., President of Bradshaw Construction Corporation, was named interim Chairman of the Board of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA) until the February 2018 General Meeting. The chairman position was recently created to replace the executive director position. 

Bradshaw Begins Construction in Chattanooga, TN
Bradshaw has begun construction of three tunnels as part of a stormwater sewer improvement project. The City of Chattanooga (Owner) has contracted Civic Engineering & IT Inc. (Engineer) and Wright Brothers Construction Co. Inc. (General Contractor) to construct the project, with Wright selecting Bradshaw as tunneling subcontractor. The three tunnels will be constructed utilizing mechanized Akkerman tunnel shields with cutterwheels, two tunnels at 86-in. diameter (Akkerman WM720C) and one at 74-in. diameter (Akkerman WM600C). The smaller diameter tunnel will be a 250 ft drive, direct jacking 72-in. FRP as the final product pipe. The two large diameter tunnels will pass underneath active Norfolk Southern Railroad lines, requiring the installation of 84-in. steel liner plates to facilitate the installation of 66-in. (195 lf) and 60-in. (135 lf) FRP. All three tunnels will be excavated through foundry sand fill, with fragments of glass and slag expected. Contaminated ground is expected, requiring extensive safety measures to be implemented to guarantee the safety of all involved with the work.  

Bradshaw Awarded NUCA Safety Award
The William H. Feather Awards are presented to NUCA member companies who have shown significant commitment and effort to safety within their companies. Judging is based on outstanding safety records, safety statements, and safety program information. Award

Masters of Microtunneling
The Microtunneling Industry in association with the Microtunneling Short Course recently recognized Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. and 10 of his employees, with experience ranging from 20 to 30 years, for their outstanding microtunneling industry excellence; declaring them all Masters of Microtunneling. Award

Expanding the Science of Microtunneling
The Microtunneling Industry in association with the Microtunneling Short Course recently presented the Microtunneling Achievement Award Save up to 50% on Rolex Replica Watches for Microtunneling Excellence to Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. for expanding the science of microtunneling and Swiss Replica watches by advancing its Art. Award

Bradshaw Begins Construction in Washington, D.C.
Bradshaw Construction Corporation is beginning construction on a $16M sewer project with the DC Water and Sewer Authority in Washington, DC. The project consists of approximately 4,300' of 24” sewer interceptor, including 2,600’ to be installed by microtunneling in four drives, with the longest being 1,860’ along Oregon Avenue at depths of up to 90’. A 60” casing will be tunneled using a Herrenknecht AVN-1200 MTBM, in which the 24” PVC carrier pipe will be installed. Subsurface conditions will consist of Tonalite rock ranging from slightly weathered to highly decomposed. The project also includes the installation of nine access shafts, 1,500’ of open cut sewer installation, three live connections to the existing sewer system and the abandonment of the existing 15” sewer the new 24” one will be replacing. All work will be installed within Oregon Avenue, bordering a congested, residential area, and Rock Creek Park, owned by the National Park Service. Shaft excavation is schedule to begin this winter, with an estimated completion of Fall 2018. 

Bradshaw Awarded NUCA Safety Award
The William H. Feather Awards are presented to NUCA member companies who have shown significant commitment and effort to safety within their companies. Judging is based on outstanding safety records, safety statements, and safety program information.  Read More

Bradshaw Begins Construction in Raleigh, NC
Bradshaw has begun construction on a $21M sewer project in Raleigh, NC. The project consists of approximately 3,000 feet of 1-pass and 2-pass microtunneling at 11 locations. The City decided to let a separate trenchless general contract in advance of the 30,000 feet of future open cut pipeline contracts. Casing size is 60” and 72” and the FRP pipe is 42” to 57”. Subsurface conditions range from alluvium and residual soil to partially and unweathered hard granitic rock and mixed face 

PUBLICATIONS

2021 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year
By Sharon M. Bueno - Trenchless Techology
Lester Bradshaw Jr. took his first job underground when he was 14 years old. Fifty-two years later, he still love to pull on that hard hat and head below the surface with the soil under his dirty, worn work boots - following in the footsteps of his father, Lester Sr.  Read More

Tunneling Success at Denver's Platte Park Hill project Is a Team Effort
By William Gleason, Senior Editor - Tunneling & Underground Construction
“The grouting was so effective that combined with
a special Bradshaw microtunneling technique that
essentially no settlement of the RTD tracks occurred on
the second drive,” said Bradshaw. Read More

The Challenges of Rock Microtunneling
By Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. - Microtunneling Short Course Seminar - University of Colorado
From a Contractor's Perspective . . . Bradshaw's Experience (54 years as a tunneling contractor, 26 years as a microtunneling contractor, 25 years using conventional rock TBMs, 13 years microtunneling rock). Power Point Presentation

Experience Key for Pennsylvania Intake Project
By TBM - Tunnel Business Magazine . . .
In tunneling, like many other aspects of life and work, experience is the best guide. For Bradshaw Construction, experience was the key in a tricky intake project it completed recently in Pennsylvania.

The project - the Wildcat Point Raw Water Supply for the Dominion Electric Cooperative - was completed within sight of another intake project completed by Bradshaw Construction for another energy company a few years earlier. Read More

Microtunnel in Birmingham Rock
By Mike Wanhatalo, Project Engineer - SESTT - Southeast Journal of Trenchless Technology
Bradshaw Construction Corporation (Bradshaw) recently completed work on the Carson Loop Phase VI-B project in Leeds, Alabama. The project owner was the Birmingham Water Works Board and the design engineer was Volkert and Associates. Bradshaw was chosen as the microtunneling subcontractor by the prime contractor Rast Construction. The project increased water capacity delivered to a rapidly developing commercial and residential area by adding 7,165 LF of 36-inch DIP water main. The project required a single 1,165 LF microtunnel drive of 60-inch steel casing. Read More

Advantages of Microtunneling in Wet Sands & Clays
By Doug Piper, Estimator/Project Manager - MASTT-Mid Atlantic Journal of Trenchless Technology
Bradshaw Construction Corporation (Bradshaw) has recently subcontracted three microtunneling projects in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia: 1. East Princess Anne Trunk Force Main Reinforcement Project; 2. College Drive Waterline Project; 3. Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Division C Sewerage System Improvements. Read More

Drill & Blast: Case History
By Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., Eric Eisold, Todd Brown - CSM Short Course Presentation
Tunnel boring machines (TBM) are regularly specified to excavate hard rock tunnels, particularly near existing sensitive structures such as dams, where vibration damage is considered critical. The drill and blast tunnel method is not always considered to be an option. Depending on the length of the tunnel, the rock conditions and the proximity to critical structures, tunneling by drill and blast hand mining can be accomplished as safely as the TBM method yet can be more economical. Bradshaw Construction used the drill and blast hand mine method to successfully install a combined spill way and raw water main tunnel for the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority at its New Ragged Mountain Dam in Charlottesville, VA.  Read More

Case History of the York Energy Center Intake/Blowdown
By Eric Eisold & Sean McIntee - Presentation
The York Energy Center project in Delta, PA consists of 565 megawatt generating facility that recovers heat from hot gas exhaust leaving gas turbines. The combustion turbines burn either natural gas or low sulfur diesel fuel oil. Combined, these two power cycles consume 70-80 percent of the fuel needed by a traditional fossil-fired boiler/steam turbine generator plant. A microtunnel solution to installing the cooling water intake and return was developed by the owner, contractor & tunnel subcontractor. A 460 m x 1500 mm (1500 ft x 59 in) steel casing was jacked through rock and zero blow count river deposits that served as the intake. A 406 mm (16 in) HPDE line was installed inside the casing to serve as a return. Financial and environmental considerations for the microtunneling solution led to replacing the original twin pipeline trenched design. The TBM was recovered from under Conowingo Lake along the Susquehanna River. Read More

1,133 Feet of Microtunneling
By Michael Gibson, P.E. & Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., President Bradshaw Construction Corporation - Southeast Journal of Trenchless Technology
Bradshaw Construction Corporation recently completed a single 1,133' microtunnel drive of 96" OD Permalok steel casing for the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Louisville & Jefferson County, Kentucky. This paper highlights certain challenges of slurry microtunneling long drives of steel casing in fine-grained soil conditions, as well as project specific difficulties related to the microtunneling and installing two carrier pipes to design grade through a single casing.  Read More

Microtunneling in Mixed Face/Mixed Reach Hard Rock
By Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. - CSM Microtunneling Short Course
Bradshaw Construction Corporation recently completed a microtunnel drive that crossed the Schuylkill River in Reading, Pennsylvania. The project consisted of 436 feet of 60 inch steel casing with an average depth of 35 feet at the shafts. Ground cover under the river was as little as 5 feet. Mining conditions began with a mixed face of non-cohesive gravel in the top of the heading overlaying fractured dolomitic rock at the bottom. The heading transitioned to a full face of fractured dolomitic rock approximately half way in to the drive. The rock had unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of up to 34,300 psi. This paper discusses the challenges associated with the project, including limited work space, rock excavation in the shaft and tunnel, disc cutter wear and changes, managing the water table, and receiving the MTBM in a 9 foot ID drilled shaft. Read More

Rumble in the Ragged Mountains
By Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., Todd Brown, Eric Eisold - World Tunneling
Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are regularly specified to excavate hard-rock tunnels, particularly near sensitive structures such as dams, where vibration damage is considered critical. The drill-and-blast tunnel method is not always considered to be an option. However, depending on the length of tunnel, the rock conditions Read More

EVENTS

Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. formally recognized at the Orlando NASTT No-Dig Show
Entrepreneur, engineer, contractor can all be described as who is Lester Bradshaw Jr. But contractor is where Les’s foundation began and where his heart lies. Les can be further described as one of the more unique individuals in this era of trenchless construction, as he is principally a microtunneler. However, that’s not where it all began.

Way back working with his father, Les was introduced to hand-mined tunneling work. He graduated into mechanical tunneling and auger boring. I purposely use the word graduated because Les notably is a civil engineering graduate from Georgia Tech and he also has an MBA from Harvard. He and his company Bradshaw Construction Corp. have advanced to be one of the foremost microtunneling contractors in the United States.

Always anxious to promote the development of microtunneling, he was a founding member of the North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA) and was its first chairman. He was a strong leader in the development of ASCE’s Microtunneling Guidelines.

Microtunneling has had numerous innovations since its first introduction to the United States in the 1980s. Curved microtunneling, pilot tube tunneling, hard rock tunneling, slurry muck removal, and longer drives are all now taking place and Les has been at the forefront of all of this.

Les will be formally recognized at the Orlando NASTT No-Dig Show in March. Our congratulations to Les for a most wonderful career.

Published by Bernard P. Krzys, Trenchless Technology

 Photo

Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. named Chairman of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA)
Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., President of Bradshaw Construction Corporation, was named Chairman of the Board of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA) until the February 2020 General Meeting. NAMA board of directors

Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. named interim Chairman of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA)
Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr., President of Bradshaw Construction Corporation, was named interim Chairman of the Board of North American Microtunneling Association (NAMA) until the February 2018 General Meeting. The chairman position was recently created to replace the executive director position. 

Bradshaw Construction Corporation Celebrates 35 Years in Tunneling
With over five decades of experience, we've earned respect as technological innovators through the construction of highly difficult tunneling projects. We owe that success to our commitment to excellence, craftsmanship, safety, and by earning our clients' trust. 

Eric Eisold Appointed Vice President of Bradshaw Construction Corporation
Eric D. Eisold, P.G., has been named Vice President of Bradshaw Construction Corporation. He previously held the position of Area Manager, responsible for the day-to-day management of estimating and project management departments ensuring our projects are completed on time and within budget.

In his new position, Eric will be responsible for expanding the pipeline of new business and building the company’s market position as well as continuing his management role in estimating and operations. With over 30 years of experience in heavy civil construction, Eric has provided our clients with the best tunnel construction and value engineering possible.

“I believe Eric’s leadership, experience and past success uniquely qualify him to help diversify and expand our services in the tunneling industry,” Lester M. Bradshaw, Jr. said.