Le SiloKoksijde

What was the customer’s request?

The underpinning of the existing foundations of the apartment buildings by means of shored trenches to a depth of 3.45 m (earth retaining from 1.00 to 2.00 m).

The installation of a Berliner wall on the Rouzéstraat (earth retaining: 3.15 m)

What technical challenges did the project pose?

The biggest challenge were the very limited dimensions of the site. The site’s maximum width was only 5.70 m, so that there was virtually no room for an excavator. However, time pressure did not allow for manual digging.

The use of an excavator posed additional challenges, because the installed bracing severely restricted clearance for the boom and the presence of an excavator made the storage of materials and excavated soil impossible.

How did CVR tackle it?

To create as much working space as possible, all the material was stored temporarily next to the site. During the underpinning phase, the excavator was driven onto the site.

The operator had to work very carefully to avoid touching the overhead bracing on the steep entrance ramp.

Moreover, the narrow site did not allow the simultaneous installation of the left and right underpinning. The fully finished segments had to be backfilled with the excavated soil, so that the excavator always had enough room to operate.

What was the end result?

The existing foundations were deepened to the required foundation wall level with underpinning. In combination with the Berliner wall, this made it possible to still realise a construction pit on the narrow parcel between the existing buildings.