MENCK is celebrating after the $1-billion Rion-Antirion bridge scooped the 2007 Outstanding Project Award from the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) after it already received the 2005 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The 3.2-km-long, multispan, cable-stayed bridge crosses the Gulf of Corinth in Greece and is the largest of its type worldwide. The bridge opened in August 2004, nearly four months ahead of schedule. It received the award for its innovative foundation system, and other record-breaking design and construction features, which were devised in response to the extraordinary technical complexities of the site.
The bridge´s foundations were built in an area of strong seismic activity lacking firm seabed soil, in water 65 m deep. MENCK´s MHU 200T hydraulic hammer, fitted with an MHP 450 hydraulic power pack, installed 800 piles, each 2 m in diameter and up to 30 m long. The area was then covered with a 3-m layer of gravel upon which the pylons would rest. This structure allows the pylons to slide laterally, in a controlled manner, if tectonic movement occurs.
MENCK performed its work according to a full-service contract, overcoming several major challenges. For example, to enable underwater pile driving without needing expensive remotely operated vehicles, the company developed bespoke positioning devices. It also developed an innovative pile-clamping system, incorporated into the hammer pile sleeve, which expedited the programme. |
