Oldcastle Precast is in the process of manufacturing and installing 461 precast concrete manholes and pull boxes for the communications system upgrades at Camp Pendleton, California, U.S., as part of the U.S. Marine Corps US$103.4 million base-wide utilities infrastructure upgrades. The $54 million communications upgrade will improve connectivity and provide critical support to other projects on the base.

The joint venture of RQ Construction and Bergelectric (RQ-BERG) awarded Oldcastle Precast the contract for the 461, 6-ft by 12-ft by 7-ft (1.8-m by 3.6-m by 2.1-m) precast concrete manholes, of which 105 will have a McGard Fibershield locking frame and cover for added security.

Communications manholes serve as conduit termination points for both fiber-optic and copper wire cables. The manholes facilitate the pulling of cable through conduit, provide a secure space for cable splicing and enable the redirection of cable away from the manhole. All of the precast concrete manholes are outfitted with galvanized racking, ladder and steps.

RQ-BERG, as part of the URS GMAC Team, is overseeing the $54 million communications upgrades and the $49.4 million electrical upgrades. In all, RQ-BERG is organizing and supervising the installation of 47 miles (76 km) of underground communications duct bank, 38 miles (61 km) of copper wire, 50 miles (80 km) of fiber-optic cable, 461 precast concrete manholes, more than 85 miles (137 km) of overhead transmission lines and more than 2,000 new power poles.

The communications and electrical upgrades are scheduled to be completed by March 2013.

For more information, www.oldcastleprecast.com.