TxDOT Plastic Pipe Approval the Latest Win for Stormwater Management

Written by Jonathan Sickels, Vice President, Public Markets

Living in Austin and working for Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), we were thrilled in late 2022 when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) released a new special specification approving the use of thermoplastic pipe in storm sewer and culvert applications statewide. It’s the latest victory for how our state and country manages stormwater in critical infrastructure applications.

This latest approval shouldn’t come as a surprise based on how often and successful plastic pipe has been deployed to manage stormwater under highways, airports, railroads, and in municipalities where ADS pipe has been used for decades across the U.S. For example, here are just a handful of projects in which ADS was involved:

Our ADS HP Storm polypropylene pipe (PP) is being used throughout Florida, including two recent major projects. The pipe handles stormwater drainage for Florida’s Express Lane project in Broward County. And near Orlando, almost 19 miles of HP Storm provides drainage for the Wekiva Parkway.
In the Colorado DOT’s largest project to date, nearly 3 miles of plastic pipe from ADS was chosen to manage stormwater runoff, including for a stretch of I-70 through downtown Denver.

Those are just two examples among thousands of critical infrastructure projects throughout the country –– from New York to California, Vermont to Arizona –– using HP Storm and other plastic pipe to manage stormwater, with Texas now next on the list. The recent approval came about in part because TxDOT can lower installed costs using plastic pipe, and it opened up competition in order to reduce project costs and supply chain disruptions.

Plastic pipe also weighs much less, so it’s faster and safer to install with lighter equipment and fewer workers, reducing traffic disruptions and increasing job site safety. Additionally, HP Storm comes in standard 20-foot lengths, which is four to five times longer than reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) to reduce the number of required joints. It also carries a 100+ year lifespan.

Finally, ADS HP Storm has long met or exceeded required AASHTO and ASTM specifications, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) approve the use of plastic pipe in critical infrastructure including under airfields and airports, army bases and railroad lines across the country.

With that, we’re excited for what we can now help bring to the state of Texas. You can learn more about the benefits of HP Storm Dual Wall pipe here, and reach out to me directly at jonathan.sickels@adspipe.com to discuss.