Piling at Engineers' Road

Rock Foundations (Gibraltar) mobilised a variety of specialist rigs into Gibraltar to complete the micro piling works for a new prestigious development on the rock. The space at the site needed to be maximised by excavation and removal of the scree from the rock slope at the rear of the property.

The first stage of the project entailed a ground engineering slope stabilisation solution which would not only stabilise the slope to prevent rock falls but would also support the existing military road. This element of the scheme included a row of 26 number 240mm DTH piles installed to a depth of up to 12m. These contiguous piles were then supplemented with 4 anchors of similar diameter to provide additional support.

All of the slope stability works would need to be carried out from the narrow military road at the upper level of the site. Restricted access required specialist design and planning to be carried out by the engineering teams of Rock Foundations (Gibraltar). It would also involve a close working relationship with the client and the local authorities ensuring minimal disruption to the site and local residents. The challenge of restricted access suited the MDT MC80 rig which completed the drilling works with a DTH hammer and an 11,000 litre compressor.

To complete the slope stabilisation works a number of anchors were installed through the world war two bunkers and socketed into the rock, these works effectively “pinned” the bunker to the slope.

Once excavation works were complete Rock Foundations’s teams were able to return to the site with the powerful Klemm 806 rig which was ideally suited to install 20 number 200mm diameter drill bar bearing piles to support the proposed structure.