Ground improvements to support the construction of new warehouses on 135,000 sq ft of previously undeveloped land have been successfully completed by Keller.
The project
The foundations work was carried out at Kestrel Park, Avonmouth, Bristol, which is already a national and international logistics hub home to Waitrose, Amazon, Lidl, the Range and Farmfoods.
Six new industrial warehouse units with fully-fitted first floor offices are due to open at Kestrel Park later this year.
Keller was appointed by Barnwood Ltd to prepare the 'complex' ground at the plot ahead of the development being constructed.
The challenge
Weak soil made up of very soft clays with layers of peat required a robust technique to ensure that strict performance criteria to limit settlement were met.
The solution
Keller designed and delivered a rigid inclusion solution, allowing the structures to be supported using pad foundations and a ground-bearing slab.
The columns were installed using fully displacement tools, which generates minimal waste being brought to the surface.
All the columns were excavated while they were still fresh using a simple scoop at each position without damaging the load distribution layer.
Rob Herring, Keller's Estimating Manager, Ground Improvement, said: "This was a technically demanding site due to the depth and variability of the weak soils but our rigid inclusion design provided a solution that met the performance requirements
"The work highlights our ability to tackle complex ground conditions and provide practical, efficient solutions that support the needs of clients."
Two rigs were used throughout the project, which took four weeks to complete.