PROJECT OVERVIEW
Bachy Soletanche was appointed to deliver a complex geotechnical package as part of a business-critical project at Terminal 3, Heathrow Airport. When completed, the scheme will see a permanent flight connection facility created to establish passenger links into the existing terminal.
PILING OPERATIONS
The programme was scheduled to deliver the works across four separate visits. The first saw the installation of restricted access piles, during night-shifts, with the 600mm diameter piles being constructed in areas where there was only 5m of headroom.
The second visit saw the team install 98 CFA piles, with a diameter of 750mm which were bored to a depth of approximately 18m. During this visit the team had to work collaboratively with the client to ensure the piling platform could be delivered in-line with the piling programme.
Following this, the third visit saw the installation of 19 rotary bored piles, which were 750mm in diameter and bored to 19m. The final visit saw the operation revert to night-shifts to install 600mm diameter piles.
LOGISTICAL PLANNING
Logistical planning was essential to the successful delivery of this scheme. Operating air-side, and in a live airport environment, the team had to ensure all deliveries were co-ordinated through the air build system. Mobilisation of plant and equipment, along with delivery of steel reinforcement cages, could only occur at night as the low-loaders had to travel across the runway in order to access the work area.
The project was successfully delivered and handed over to the client and following trades.
