24.10.13
Reading viaduct piling success
Piling work for the Reading viaduct is almost complete, Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering (BBGE) has announced.
The work forms part of Network Rail’s station area redevelopment and will ease congestion by taking mainline trains over freight and relief lines. The whole project is worth £40m.
The £3.8m foundations package of work on the viaduct, conducted by BBGE, began in May to support the structure. The Ground Improvement phase to install vibro concrete colums will commence in November.
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.”
Jim Weeden, Network Rail, Reading Station and Area Redevelopment acting project director, 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.”
RTM’s most recent story on the Reading upgrade is here.
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