Town of Queensbury – Tee Hill Road Culvert Replacement

Sinkhole Triggers a Culvert Replacement Completed in Just Four Months

In the Town of Queensbury, New York, a large sinkhole had formed on Tee Hill Road, partially collapsing the road and posing a serious risk to the traveling public. Investigations revealed that a six-foot-diameter corrugated metal culvert had corroded, causing significant erosion around the pipe and forming a sinkhole.

Given the high volume of traffic that relies on Tee Hill Road, the Town of Queensbury’s Town Board declared the situation an emergency. The Town quickly mobilized, engaging LaBella to conduct geotechnical investigations, perform topographic surveys, and secure the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) permit needed to replace the failed culvert.

Further analysis determined that, based on the size of the stream, the existing culvert was severely undersized. To meet NYSDEC requirements, the final design span would extend to 40 feet—a 34-foot increase from the existing six-foot-diameter culvert.

LaBella and the Town’s Emergency Services Contractor, Tom Kubricky Company, along with D.A. Collins Companies and Fort Miller Precast, collaborated to design and construct a new, durable bridge system to replace the culvert. The main span of the bridge consists of seven interconnected pieces, sealed with grout and reinforced with backfill to integrate with the existing roadway.

The bold goal of reopening Tee Hill Road by Christmas Day was met ahead of schedule on December 18, 2024. The new bridge provides safe, reliable access for the traveling public, supports the stream ecosystem, and offers durability and corrosion resistance.

Community Safety

Maintenance and Protection of Traffic plans, including detour routes and “Road Closed” signs, were posted at key locations throughout the project site. The use of construction cranes minimized site disturbance, creating a buffer between the public roadway and excavated areas.

Environmental Considerations

To protect the stream during construction, sheet piles were driven into the ground on both sides, forming a barrier between the worksite and the existing stream. This barrier allowed the new bridge construction, including footings and approaches, to proceed without impacting the stream. As a result, critical environmental factors—such as fish spawning and migration cycles, water quality, and the overall ecosystem—were preserved.

An Expedited Schedule

Given the risk to public and environmental safety, this project was declared an emergency and executed with urgency.

August 2024: The sinkhole is initially identified.

September 2024: A NYSDEC permit is obtained, construction begins, excavation is completed, and sheet piles are installed. The sheet piles served as a protective barrier for the stream, allowing construction to proceed. Without this measure, the new bridge construction would have been delayed until spring 2025. Additionally, the existing culvert is demolished and removed.

September–November 2024: The design and precast manufacturing of the bridge sections continue.

December 2024: Construction is completed, and Tee Hill Road reopens to the public.

An Award-Winning Project

Town of Queensbury Culvert Replacement Wins APWA NY Chapter Regional Public Works Project of the Year Award

In February 2025, LaBella and the Town of Queensbury were honored to accept the 2024 Public Works Project of the Year Award from the Capital Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA) New York Chapter. The Tee Hill Road Culvert Replacement project was honored in the Emergency Construction for Small Cities/Rural Communities category.

The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant, and the contractor.