Bachy Soletanche takes home gold at GE Awards
Specialist geotechnical contractors, Bachy Soletanche, alongside MWH and United Utilities, has been awarded the accolade of ‘Geotechnical/geoenvironmental UK project up to £1m’ at this week’s Ground Engineering awards for the Slope Stabilisation of the Thirlmere Aqueduct at Nab Scar in Cumbria.
The £1.2m contract, which saw the Bachy Soletanche team conduct a two phase permeation grouting, mini-piling and tension pile project alongside a fast track four week outage, posed obstacles including getting machinery up a 440m fell and creating a platform off a 40 degree cliff face.
Bachy used its permeation grouting technique to stabilise areas of rock which had been disturbed over the years and went on to successfully install 34, 220mm diameter mini piles, drilled up to a depth of 16m into the hard rock hillside where the aqueduct crossed Nab Scar. Tension piles were also constructed in conjunction with the mini piles. This combination of techniques was the best viable solution to successfully carry out the remedial work due to the restricted access of the aqueduct and getting the equipment up the fell.
Bachy Soletanche’s Business Development Manager, Paul Hodgson, said:
“It’s a great honour to win at the Ground Engineering awards and have our work on a particularly tricky project recognised. These occasions are great for bringing the industry together and I’d like to congratulate all other winners and wish everyone a successful 2011.”