Emergency Storm Sewer Repair

Project Overview:

Summit was contracted by a large Engineering firm and Ocean County to address an urgent subsurface infrastructure failure in Brick, NJ. A sink hole had developed in a busy parking lot used by shoppers and township vehicles. The failure involved a monitoring well that had unintentionally punctured an 18-inch storm sewer line beneath a county roadway. Summit delivered a complete investigation-to-restoration solution using its Geophysical, Drilling, and Remediation divisions—eliminating the need for additional subcontractors and ensuring efficient coordination from start to finish.

Challenge/Conditions:

The damaged storm line restricted access for inspection and maintenance while the repair area was located directly beside an active two-lane county roadway. The project required traffic diversion, precision excavation, structural shoring, and seamless multi-division coordination to maintain roadway stability, public safety, and regulatory compliance throughout the work.

Services Provided:

• Subsurface utility investigation using RF, EM, and GPR
• Proper abandonment of an improperly installed monitoring well
• Roadway traffic control and diversion operations
• Shored excavation adjacent to active roadway
• Cutting and removal of existing well casing
• Clearing and repairing an 18" storm sewer line (coupler & bentonite chip seal)
• Controlled backfilling and compaction with shoring removal
• Installation of a new monitoring well via direct-push Geoprobe drilling
• All services performed in-house under a single coordinated contract

Solutions/Approach:

Summit began with a full geophysical investigation to map utilities and subsurface conditions around the compromised storm line. After confirming the location of the puncture, the Drilling Division abandoned the original monitoring well in place to prevent further interference. The Remediation Division then mobilized shoring systems, a mini excavator, and full roadway traffic control to safely manage traffic flow on the county road. A precision excavation was performed adjacent to the pavement without undermining the roadway. Crews removed the abandoned well, cleaned and cleared the storm sewer, and executed repairs with a mechanical coupler and bentonite seal. The excavation was then backfilled and compacted in controlled lifts while shoring was systematically removed. Once surface conditions were restored, Summit returned with its direct-push drilling team to install a new monitoring well in the remediated area, completing the system restoration.

Outcome/Results:

Summit delivered a fully self-performed, multi-division solution that restored storm sewer integrity, resolved ongoing access issues, and reinstated a functional monitoring well—all with minimal public disruption. The coordinated approach reduced downtime, ensured structural roadway stability, maintained regulatory compliance, and significantly streamlined project delivery for customers.