Thalle is currently underway in its construction of a major marine and tunneling project designed to convey large volumes of raw water from Lake Travis, to regional water treatment facilities in the Round Rock, Texas vicinity.

Central to the work were two multilevel deep-lake intake screens installed from barges using reverse-circulation drilling. These offshore structures allow operators to draw higher-quality water from varying elevations as lake conditions change. The intakes feed an 8-foot-diameter gravity tunnel that carries raw water to shore without intermediate pumping.

 

To support this marine system, Thalle constructed a 30-foot-diameter, 300-foot-deep access shaft along with six additional vertical shafts, all excavated in competent limestone. A steel-lined transmission tunnel was driven between these shafts using a combination of TBM and roadheader excavation—an approach required because blasting was prohibited in this sensitive environment. This precision excavation allowed Thalle to meet demanding tolerances while protecting surrounding geology and nearby infrastructure.

 

Raw water is ultimately lifted through a state-of-the-art pump station equipped with submersible turbine pumps rated up to 3,600 HP. The facility includes medium- and low-voltage electrical gear, VFDs, backup generators, SCADA automation, a chemical feed building, and a two-story masonry structure supported by mat foundations. Site development rounded out the project, with grading, stormwater controls, retaining walls, and new access roads integrated into the overall system.

 

This project showcases Thalle Construction’s marine, deep-shaft, and tunnel-excavation expertise, as well as our ability to deliver complex raw-water infrastructure from offshore intake to onshore pumping and transmission systems.

Thalle is an industry leader in marine and sheet pile construction.  If you would like to see more examples of our work in this market, click here.