The new highway in northern Lebanon requires 4 underpass bridges. Int’l IGM recommended, designed and implemented a new “Top Down” Technique for bridge construction. This technique was first implemented in Milano in the 1980’s, and consists of installing secant and permanent piles at each side of the bridge and in the centerline. The top slab is then poured on the floor level connecting the top of the piles. The piles will replace the foundations and the walls of the classical box culvert system. This technique has tremendous advantages in case of soft soil, as was the case in Araman where the soil was wet highly plastic clay, CH. The time of execution was reduced by almost ½ since the temporary shoring that was needed for the box culvert excavation was avoided, the amount of earthworks was reduced by 40%, and the scaffolding system for the top slab was no longer necessary. As shown in the picture below, after installing the piles and the top slab, the excavation could proceed safely from the top and down.
Client:HOMAN ENGINEERING COMPANY