Plattsmouth companies build large pipe carrier

PLATTSMOUTH - San Diego residents who turn on their faucets every day may not know where Plattsmouth is on a map.

But they'll be able to thank Plattsmouth technology for sips of water they gulp down in the future.

Local companies Kelley Engineered Equipment and New Idea, Inc., are playing a major role in the success of a large pipeline project in southern California. The companies have designed and built a pipeline carrier that will transport pipe weighing as much as 42,000 pounds through a tunnel under northern San Diego County. Team members tested the project Friday for engineers from Traylor Brothers, a construction company charged with building the 11-mile-long water conveyance tunnel.

Traylor Brothers officials seemed pleased with what they saw in the New Idea, Inc., building.

"This technology is vitally important to whether we're successful with this or not, so this has been really nice to see," Traylor Brothers engineer Mike Krulc said. "We need this type of equipment to keep the project moving on schedule."

See Thursday's Journal for the complete story on the pipe carrier project.