Multiple bridge piling project nears completion

The Japonais pour l'Autoroute Algérienne consortium, is using equipment from EURL Bauer Fondations Spéciales to construct piles for 35 bridges along the East West Highway between Setif in Algeria and the Tunisian Border.

The joint venture project, comprising several Japanese construction companies, involves boring 1200 mm diameter, 20 to 44 m long piles for each of the bridges. According to Bauer this means there will be a total pile length of 423 km along this stretch of road.

The company said the soil conditions vary along the route - from sand, gravel and sandstone boulders in the low laying areas, to clay and marl as well as limestone and sandstone in the high plateau, especially around Setif which is 1100 m above sea level.

The piling project which began in December 2007 with five heavy-duty drilling rigs is expected to be finished by the end of this month.