The Clearwater Fire Station faced a growing infrastructure threat. Cracks began appearing across the asphalt driveway leading into the station—a critical access route used daily by emergency vehicles. These surface defects were symptoms of a deeper problem: void formation and soil loss beneath the roadway caused by a compromised storm drain system.

The underground piping was deteriorating, with gaps in storm drain seams allowing surrounding soil to wash into the system during heavy rain. Over time, this erosion created dangerous voids beneath the pavement, jeopardizing both the integrity of the roadway and the safety of emergency operations.

Leadership at the station knew a surface patch was not enough—the solution had to address the underlying soil instability and protect the structure long-term.

Stabilizing a storm drain without full excavation is a technical and precision-driven task. Challenges included:

• Access constraints – The fire station’s driveway had to remain operational for emergency vehicles
• Material placement control – Injection had to reinforce the drain without blocking water flow
• Soil reconsolidation – The solution needed to fill voids beneath the road surface to prevent further settlement

Traditionally, this repair would involve:

• Removing the roadway
• Excavating down to the storm drain
• Replacing the system entirely

While effective, that approach can take weeks or months, cost significantly more, and still risk seam misalignment in the future—restarting the erosion cycle.

Helicon’s approach: Stabilize from the inside out using advanced polyurethane permeation grouting, avoiding costly and disruptive excavation.

Step 1 – Material Selection

Helicon selected a specialized one-part polyurethane resin designed for deep soil permeation and water resistance. This grout has the ability to:

• Flow into fine cracks and joints inside the storm drain
• Seal gaps and prevent further soil loss
• Bond with surrounding soils for long-term stability

Step 2 – Targeted Injection Process

• Injection points were strategically placed to ensure complete coverage of compromised zones
• The resin was injected inside and around the storm drain, flowing upward into surrounding soil layers
• This dual action sealed the drain structure while recompacting soils supporting the roadway

Step 3 – Full Area Stabilization

• Total material used: 237 gallons of polyurethane resin
• Every gallon reinforced structural integrity, filled voids, and created a monolithic, water-resistant barrier
• The stabilized subgrade was now capable of handling heavy fire trucks and daily traffic without risk of collapse

The Results

By addressing the root cause of instability, Helicon:

• Restored roadway safety without excavation
• Extended the lifespan of the storm drain and pavement
• Prevented further erosion and void formation
• Completed the work quickly, with no operational downtime for the fire station

The fire station now has a fully stabilized access route capable of supporting decades of heavy use, even through Florida’s severe weather events.

Why Municipal & Commercial Clients Choose Helicon

From Clearwater to Tampa Bay, Helicon delivers infrastructure stabilization solutions that:

• Minimize disruption to critical operations
• Save time and money compared to traditional replacement
• Offer engineered, long-lasting results

We work with municipalities, utilities, and commercial property owners to protect essential infrastructure from the ground up.

Get a site evaluation today: www.heliconusa.com/contact