Mühlhausen-Bad Langensalza

B 247

Pile foundations for seven bridge structures

Foundations for bridges along the new route

The foundation works comprised two bridge structures spanning the River Unstrut as well as five railway bridges along the upgraded section. The varying locations of the structures led to differing requirements in terms of subsoil conditions, logistics and the construction process. In addition to the geological conditions, existing transport routes as well as the existing railway infrastructure had to be taken into account in the planning and execution. The deep foundations form the basis for the future abutments and bridge foundations along the route.

Pile foundations between river and railway

A total of 242 Frankipiles NG® with a diameter of 61 cm as well as 290 Frankipiles NG® with a diameter of 71 cm were installed for the foundation works. The piles transfer the load from the future bridge structures and distribute it into load-bearing soil layers. The varying locations of the structures along the route required a foundation system tailored to the respective ground conditions.

Frankipile NG® for the bridge structures

The Frankipile NG® was used for the foundation work. The pile system forms part of the Greenpile® product family from PORR Spezialtiefbau. In addition to the load-bearing requirements of the future bridge structures, the boundary conditions along the route also had to be taken into account. The pile foundations were tailored to the requirements of the respective structures as well as the adjacent infrastructure. The combination of specialist civil engineering design and execution formed the basis for the construction of the foundations along this section of the route.

Work in the vicinity of the railway

Part of the foundation work was carried out in the vicinity of existing railway lines. The construction procedures were adapted to the requirements of the railway environment. Personnel, methods and equipment pre-qualified for work in operational railway environments were deployed for the works. The work was carried out whilst taking into account the operational constraints of the existing railway infrastructure.

The basis for the new bridge structures

The completion of the pile foundations created the conditions for the subsequent civil engineering works along the B247. Even before the abutments, piers and superstructures became visible, the foundations for seven bridge structures along the new route between Mühlhausen and Bad Langensalza were laid beneath the ground surface.