TWO MAJOR NEW FOUNDATION PROJECTS

FEATURES

Johannesburg-based construction foundation provider, Gauteng Piling, has secured two new major contracts in its 25th year of operations, including piling for a large apartment block in Randburg and a new church in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

Lethabo Mashala, Gauteng Piling’s contract manager for the new, upmarket 66-apartment Fern Valley complex in Ferndale, Johannesburg, says the three-storey facility is being developed by Caliber Properties on a site where old residential property was demolished. Fern Valley will also feature a basement and garden area.

“We’re providing 140 auger piles 4-7m deep with diameters ranging from 250-600mm, with appropriate steel reinforcement cages over the area of about 4 000m²,” says Mashala. “Gauteng Piling’s Williams Digger MF rig is being used for the project. These rigs are exceptionally fast, mobile and reliable and are able to handle piles substantially deeper than required on this site.”

Keoatlaretse Tema, Gauteng Piling contract manager for the impressive half-moon-shaped church building being constructed by WBHO on a new terrain of just over 2 000m² in Bethelsdorp, says the project will require 65 auger piles 2,7-8m deep with diameters of 300-800mm. The steel reinforcement cages vary from 200-650mm in diameter.

The main challenge here, apart from the threat of political unrest, was the fact that some old rubble seemed to have been buried in parts of the site. “This meant we had to ensure that the rubble soil didn’t collapse into the piling holes overnight,” she added.

Gauteng Piling had to transport another of its fleet of Williams Digger rigs on a lowbed trailer to the coastal site just over 1 000km from its yard at Diepsloot, Gauteng, to provide the piling in Gqeberha. It is one of several contracts outside Gauteng successfully handled by the piling company this year.

Other major foundations provided during the company’s silver anniversary year include:

• Foundations for a large pedestrian bridge for the new MEGA International Fresh Produce Market at Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

• Stabilising a large gaping sinkhole near residences in Irene near Centurion, Gauteng.

• The Forest Mansions apartment block in Bramley, Johannesburg.

• The Tshwane University of Technology campus in eMalahleni.

• The Capital Hotel in Mbombela.

• Offices for the SA Social Security Agency in Mahikeng, North West Province.

• The Tree Tops apartment block developed by Tricolt in Houghton, Johannesburg.

• The entrance and expansion of the Cresta Shopping Centre in Randburg, Johannesburg.

• A facility for diving rescue training for the University of Johannesburg’s medical rescue students in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

• Storage tanks for Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Nigel, Gauteng.

• The expansion of the Africa Floorcare warehouse in Alberton, Gauteng.

(Above, from left): Foundations for Caliber Properties’ new Fern Valley apartments in Ferndale and stabilising the walls of a large sinkhole in Centurion to prevent the collapse of adjoining houses were among several major projects handled by Gauteng Piling in its silver anniversary year.