Sheet Piling (UK) first worked at the Old Oak Common Station site last year, carrying out a six-week sheet pile installation project to create a temporary retaining wall. Recently, the contractor returned to the site, working on behalf of McGee Group, to create a temporary sacrificial retaining wall, formed from steel sheet piles to the western and central part of the 32-acre site.

This work entailed installing 158, 10.5m long Emirates Steel EZ19-700 sheet piles. As HS2 works are carried out in sensitive environments, often urban and in close proximity to city homeowners, tenants and workers, Sheet Piling (UK) used silent and vibrationless sheet pile installation methods, to minimise impacts. This involved the use of a Kowan ZU100 sheet pile press, which was serviced by a 50Te Sennebogen crane, which pushed the piles into the ground, without requiring the use of driving and impact hammers.

Having to comply with a weight restriction on an access overbridge, which required gross transport loading of 79t or less, Sheet Piling (UK) ensured that the piling rig was de-ballasted, prior to its arrival at the site.

Sheet pile installation methods also had to be free of water jetting, so the contractor adopted a pre-auguring methodology, to facilitate successful sheet pile installation into the prevailing soils and terrain. The pre-auguring of the pile line was carried out using an ABI TM13 telescopic leader rig with auger motor and flights attachments.

Sheet Piling (UK) also ensured it complied with all NRMM regulations with regard to emissions standards, by only using EU Stage-V engine plant from its extensive and modern in-house fleet, it has been able to complete the job ahead of programme schedule.