Our General Piling team delivered piling works at the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (MMDR) project in Leicestershire, supporting Galliford Try on behalf of Leicestershire County Council. The MMDR is a crucial infrastructure project designed to alleviate congestion in Melton Mowbray and facilitate the town’s housing and job growth plans.
Project Background
- Appointed by Galliford Try.
- Our scope included the installation of critical piling structures to support the new road. We provided the installation of 126No. 660mm OD permanent cased piles using a hybrid cased CFA technique, reaching a maximum depth of 24.75 meters. This was the first time this method has been used in the UK to install casing to these depths.
- Additionally, 356 single AZ sheet piles across three bridge structures were installed to aid the installation of the abutments, each ranging from 8 to 11.5 meters in length.
Challenges
The project presented several significant challenges. The presence of artesian water on site added a layer of complexity, requiring the use of permanent casing to ensure the stability and integrity of the piles.
The hybrid cased CFA technique we employed was relatively uncommon, necessitating adaptation and additionally training. The method involved leaving the casing in each pile and utilising a “rat hole” with a full 24.7m casing for reconnection, which is not a specifically developed method.
The site also experienced multiple flood events, which further complicated the construction process. This required additional measures to manage water ingress and ensure the safety and effectiveness of the piling operations.
Van Elle Solutions
The project involved the installation of 126No. 660m OD permanent cased piles using a hybrid cased Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) technique, reaching depths up to 24.75m to ensure the artesian water was controlled and the pile construction was successful.
This approach involved a unique process where we retained the casing in each pile, establishing a rat hole with a full 24.7m casing to facilitate seamless connection for subsequent pile installations.