Construction Troubleshooting and Claims Assistance

Assisting projects to move forward through a blend of experience, practical know-how, technical expertise, intuition and innovation

Bridge over Padma River, Bangladesh
China Major Bridge Engineering Company (2017 to 2020)¹

The Padma River Bridge is a 6.8km road and rail bridge crossing the Padma River to the south of Dhaka.  The river crossing comprises 41 spans of 150m length, with each span supported on 6 No. raked 3m diameter steel tube piles typically founded  in dense silty fine sands at 114m below river level.  Some of the largest pile driving hammers (eg Menck MHU2400s and MHU3500s) were used to drive the piles.  The construction sequence and operations were complex and complicated by a deep clay close to founding level at some piers. Technical assistance with all aspects of the complex driven pile foundation works in order to allow construction to proceed, followed by assistance with preparation of the contractor’s successful extension of time claim (950 days) and ongoing cost claims, including engaging and directing legal experts and delay and disruption consultants.

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Fergusson Container Wharf, Auckland NZ
Fletcher Construction Company (2016 to 2017)²

The contractor encountered unexpected strong rock conditions which resulted in toe buckling of the the tubular steel pile foundations. Construction assistance to the contractor in developing remedial solutions for those piles already buckled, and with developing new construction procedures to avoid toe buckling on further piles in the affected area. Undertaking literature review which formed the evidentiary basis for the expert opinion provided in support of the successful unforeseeable ground conditions claim, hitherto rejected by the Engineer.

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Cape Lambert Wharf B, Western Australia
Rio Tinto Ltd /John Holland Group (2011 to 2013)²

Engaged at the direction of the Owner on Phase II of the project in response to significant delays arising from difficulties experienced with interpretation of the PDA testing of foundations in Phase I of the project. Developed and implemented a significantly simplified testing regime based on a world-first system approach which enabled zero-delay pile sign-off on every pile in Phase II.

¹ As Managing Director, FQA and Technical Director, FSG

² As Technical Director, FSG