New fleet maintenance shop enhances safety, efficiency

Alyeska crews drive thousands of miles every year while operating and maintaining the 800-mile-long Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).

They use a fleet of almost 2,000 vehicles to support pipeline operations, including everything from pickup trucks to excavators and heavy earthmoving equipment. And they rely upon Alyeska’s fleet maintenance team to maintain these vehicles for safe and effective operation in such extreme Alaska environments as the gravel Dalton Highway that ends at Prudhoe Bay and remote Arctic worksites.

Alyeska recently upgraded its fleet maintenance capabilities by opening a new maintenance facility in Fairbanks. This new building consolidates vehicle maintenance functions at one location and offers important advantages including a radiant-heated concrete foundation for mechanics working close to the floor, an indoor wash bay and vehicle and heavy equipment lifts including a moveable, synchronized wireless heavy duty lift that can hoist 64,000 pounds.

The facility has three banks of hoses that allow lube oils, grease and antifreeze to be supplied at any point in the shop, which was impossible at the old facility. It also includes a lube oil disposal system that processes and recycles used vehicle oil and re-injects it into the pipeline.

Alyeska construction supervisor Arland Anderson said the new facility helps the company to save time and money.

“Features like oversized doors for access into the shop, larger work bays and better lighting in and around the building all enhance safety and increase maintenance efficiencies,” said Anderson. “The larger facility also enables shop personnel to conduct repairs without moving vehicles in and out of the shop while waiting for parts.”

In the past, large maintenance projects often had to be spread across multiple buildings because of inadequate space. The new facility has enough shop space to eliminate this problem. Its drive-through bays are large enough to park a full-size tractor and trailer, while leaving enough room to work around the vehicle.

The new facility also has a vehicle exhaust removal system and overhead air filtration that protects workers from exhaust fumes while keeping the shop warm enough to work efficiently.

“The new fleet shop streamlines fleet maintenance processes,” said Dave Greenlee, Alyeska fleet manager. “It provides an upgraded work environment for shop productivity and enhances our ability to safely and effectively manage fleet maintenance schedules. This facility positions Alyeska fleet maintenance for the future in the post-Strategic Reconfiguration environment.”