Working on behalf of the project main contractor Consto AS, Sør-Norsk Boring is undertaking the job of completing 4,500m of steel core piles to create the foundation for the new hospital. Talking about the company's involvement in the project, operations manager, Jarle Hundershagen said: "It is not often we have assignments so far north. So, this is a very exciting time for us. We have heard that the autumn storms can be violent. But we are well prepared and look forward to the continuation.

"We have initially set up 31 shifts and have mobilised two drilling rigs, compressors and excavators to do the job. Most of the equipment and material was sent by boat, but equipment has also been transported by road."

The four-story hospital will cover 33,000m² when finished and to support it Hundershagen said Sør-Norsk Boring will need nearly 400 pile points and around 4,500m of steel core piles. "This is a rewarding assignment with some challenges as the ground consists of a lot of coarse rock and hard rock.

"We have extensive experience with this type of job. With our technological and professional resources, we have the capacity to perform all types of assignments in different masses and terrain," he added.

The NOK 11.5 million (US$1.2 million) piling contract will see Sør-Norsk Boring install 382 piles, with dimensions from Ø100, Ø120, Ø150 and Ø180mm steel core piles using drilling casing from Ø168.3, Ø193.7, Ø219.1 and Ø273.0mm. The piles were divided across four buildings and drilling is now underway for the last building.

The ground has been described as bedrock is hard over which there is a layer of blasted rock that ranges from six to 40m and contains only rock. "There is no loose soil, only rock and often big rocks 1m in diameter, so drilling has been challenging and very time-consuming, but overall the project goes well and we stay on schedule for the end date," said Hundershagen.

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