A wing wall failure at the Six Mile Creek Aqueduct on the Miami and Erie Canal in Auglaize County, Ohio in 2018 prompted concern for the integrity of the remaining structure.
A temporary fix was put in place while Mundell was contracted to perform geophysical imaging studies to assist in evaluating material anomalies, voids, subsidence and/or groundwater in the backfill areas of the abutment and wing walls to preserve the historic aqueduct.
The results of terrain conductivity and electrical resistivity imaging indicated the presence of coarse-grained, granular fill material with potential void spaces within the embankment behind the stone block abutment and wing walls. A ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey showed the likely presence of significant void development behind the remaining abutment and wing wall structures.
This spring, before any fixes had been made, 100 year rains overwhelmed the aqueduct and permanent repairs were kicked into high gear.
The findings of the Mundell studies supported engineers and project management working on the canal to understand the geology around the structure.
To see more technical results of the studies, see the Historic Aqueduct Failure Case History.
Aqueduct in the News
Aqueduct Stable Crews Continue to Monitor (The Evening Leader, April 27, 2019)
ODNR Offers Update on 6-Mile Creek Aqueduct (The Evening Leader, August 28, 2019)
Aqueduct work expected to be finished this fall (Hometown Stations, September 1, 2019)