The Galliford Try, Costain and Atkins joint ventures awarded DNS the contract to undertake ground stabilisation for a soil piling mat, on behalf of their client United Utilities.
The 9000m2 area was mainly made ground with a high organic silt content. The site was cleared of several tonnes of house bricks, concrete and reinforced steels and relocated on site. Buried foundations and the remains of a number of old piles were excavated prior to the stabilisation process.
The in situ material was blended with ‘RoadCem’ product – ‘a fine powdered blend which enables the binding of nearly all kinds of materials’ – to create a stable platform. This will prevent cracking or bounce during the piling programme.
A layer of crushed was then applied to the stabilised area to give extra traction and avoid any dust created during piling.
The project is part of the £3.6 billion being invested by UU across the North West to improve water quality and the environment by 2015. It comprises of a new 4,500m3 storm retention tank and diversion chamber designed to store storm sewage and prevent discharge in periods of heavy rainfall to the local watercourse.