Work has now begun on the £75m scheme to upgrade the existing roundabout at the A19/A1058 Coast Road junction into a triple decker, with structures to be built both under and over ground level.
Bauer’s scope of works is to install 583 contiguous rotary bored piles with diameters ranging from 600mm to 1500mm. The piles, which are up to 31 metres long, are founded in sandstone bedrock to form contiguous pile walls, creating the trough for the future A19 ‘dive under’. A number of the retaining wall piles also act as hybrid design elements by carrying the load of three major single span bridges across the underpass.
To verify the capacity of these critical foundations, Bauer will carry out three permanent pile load tests using the Osterberg method.
Bauer said that the project was particularly challenging as it involves working within a live, major roundabout with heavy traffic. Bauer is working closely with Sisk Lagan and Highways England to manage the risks.
Piling works started in December 2016, with mobilisation of a Bauer BG30 rig, which will be followed by a second machine in early 2017. Piling works will be carried out in two phases and are expected to be complete by the end of 2017.
Martin Blower, managing director of Bauer Technologies, said: “We were delighted to be awarded this project as it further demonstrates our capabilities in the highways sector and strengthens our position as the major independent national specialist foundations contractor.”
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