Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering (BBGE) is nearing completion of the piling phase for the viaduct, part of Network Rail’s Reading station area redevelopment. The viaduct, being constructed by Balfour Beatty, will ease congestion by taking fast mainline trains over freight and relief lines.
The £3.8m foundations package began in May and includes the installation of 980 continuous flight auger piles to support the viaduct structure. The ground improvement phase to install 1685 vibro concrete columns, to support the ramps at the eastern and western ends, also being carried out by BBGE, will start in November.
Piling was carried out alongside the live railway. BBGE project manager Rob Cannon said: “Careful planning was essential to this project, and our use of lean visual management has enabled us to closely monitor and control activities as well as provide instant updates to Network Rail.”
Network Rail project director Jim Weeden said: “Over 20,000 linear metres of piling has been completed by the Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering piling crews. The fact that all of it has been successfully completed within 15 metres of the operational railway, without any impact on train operations or driver concerns is a major contribution to the satisfaction of passengers on this key route.”
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