Asbestos-infested mud and water in the steam tunnels under campus pushed Facility Services’ clean-up project past the expected length of three weeks.
The project, which began in January, aimed to replace insulation infested with asbestos particles to make tunnels more accessible for repairs, said Dave Maharrey, associate executive director of Facility Services. During this process, it was discovered that asbestos particles drifted downward, contaminating the muddy water below. Because of this, Facility Services decided to do a full cleaning of the steam tunnels, beyond replacing insulation.
Maharrey said the original portion of the project, removal and replacement of insulation, is complete. The full cleaning is still underway.
“This is the second job. We’ve done the first,” Maharrey said.
The tunnel system has multiple sections that will be tended to systematically, Maharrey said. Tunnels below the Quad’s east end are currently being worked on. Maintenance under the Quad’s west end will follow.
The intention of the project has not changed, Maharrey said. Ultimately, the cleaning of the tunnels will result in easier, more efficient repairs.