Construction of support structures for the Kerch Strait bridge has commenced at the sea sections. According to the Crimean Bridge information center, the piles are being driven in at the western point of the Tuzla island. They will serve as a foundation for structures supporting the highway above the water.
Each support structure will have a foundation consisting of 12 pipe piles with the diameter of 1,420 mm. Support structures between the Tuzla spit and Tuzla island for both highway and railway sections will have a foundation made of 8 pipe piles each.
According to Pavel Nekrich, “Protoka” section’s Project Manager, the works are being executed from a site equipped with a 300-tonne crane, vibro-drivers of different capacity, a hydraulic hammer and a conductor allowing for driving longer piles with an accuracy of up to 100 mm.
The piles are driven section by section connected through electric arc welding.
Construction and assembling operations in the water area are carried out off the shore at the depth of over 4 meters (from bottom to surface level). The works comply with the environmental requirements under the project.
Simultaneous construction is underway at both water area and on land. 16 support structures have been built so far: 7 for highway and 9 for railway sections. Over 800 piles of different types have been driven in by today.
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