Introducing MARSH-MELLOW & P.O.S.E.I.D.O.N.

The Bay Park Conveyance Project’s Two Microtunnel Boring Machines 

What is microtunneling and how will it be used on the Bay Park Conveyance Project?

Microtunneling is an innovative technique used on the Bay Park Conveyance Project to construct tunnels deep below the surface. The Project includes two microtunneling segments - one extending two miles from the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility to Sunrise Highway, and another extending 1.6 miles from Sunrise Highway to the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP).

To perform microtunneling, a Microtunneling Boring Machine (MTBM) will be deployed or received from a series of vertical shafts that are being constructed. Two MTBMs will be used on the Project so that microtunneling can proceed at two locations simultaneously. Each MTBM drills horizontally and is deployed from one shaft and received in another, without disturbing the surface above.

What is the 2021 Microtunnel Boring Machine Naming Contest and why would you name the machines?

The Bay Park Conveyance Project has embarked on an innovative program to engage students across the Project corridor supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. As part of this effort, the Project Team announced the 2021 Microtunnel Boring Machine Naming Contest in October 2021 and invited local students to learn more about the Project and name the two MTBMs.

The practice of assigning a name to a MTBM is a widespread engineering tradition from the 16th century when miners looked to Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and miners, for protection as they worked underground. Today, naming a MTBM in advance of construction is seen as a sign of good luck for the project ahead.

Participants

The 2021 Microtunnel Boring Machine Naming Contest was open to students from grades 6 through 8 who attend schools along the Bay Park Conveyance Project corridor. Overall, 35 students from 6 schools participated in the contest. Participants could work individually or in small groups.

Click here to read the essay submissions; Click here to watch the video submission.

Congratulations to all 35 Students Who Participated in the Contest!

Winning Names and Naming Ceremony

On November 13, 2021, NYSDEC Project Director Andrew Fera and NCDPW Chief Deputy Commissioner Elisa Picca congratulated the winning students who submitted first-place entries in the 2021 Microtunnel Boring Machine Naming Contest.

MARSH-MELLOW was submitted by Sofia Arata, Peter DeMarco, Haiden Deodat, Thomas Doolan, Oliver Feinstein, Leo Hanratty, Brody Lucas, Gabriella Nettuno, and Nicholas Peña from Sheila Gunther’s sixth-grade class at Fulton Avenue Elementary School, Oceanside School #8. MARSH-MELLOW emphasizes the words marsh and mellow to highlight unity and connection. MARSH refers to the marshlands of Bay Park, whereas MELLOW emphasizes how the Project will protect the Bay’s natural ecosystems.  

P.O.S.E.I.D.O.N. was submitted by Rocco Fontanelli, Sophia Kenn, Amelia Valentino, and Matthew Vlahakis from Kristin Stea’s sixth-grade class at North Oceanside Road Elementary School, Oceanside School #5. P.O.S.E.I.D.O.N stands for “Project of Science to Expel an Incredibly Damaging Overabundance of Nitrogen.” In Greek mythology, Poseidon is referred to as the god of the sea and the protector of all aquatic features.

MARSH-MELLOW will begin microtunneling from Bay Park Shaft 2 and P.O.S.E.I.D.O.N. will begin microtunneling from Cedar Creek Shaft 2.

Click here to find out more about the event.

Certificate Delivery

In early December 2021, representatives from NYSDEC, Nassau County, and the Project Team delivered certificates to participating schools.