Combatting embankment erosion
New River is a 28 mile artificial waterway opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water.
A section of embankment near Wood Green Tunnel has eroded over time, resulting in partial collapse of the embankment in various places.
Following removal of existing trench piles and wooden retainers, Ivor King installed steel sheet piles on both sides of the channel over a distance of 340m to prevent further collapse.
Don’t disturb the bats!
The work needed to adhere to strict noise and vibration limits, owing to the proximity of a colony of bats (an endangered species protected by law) and nearby residential properties.
Using two Giken F301 Silent Pilers working concurrently on either side of the waterway, EZ18-700 sheet piles were pressed in silently and vibration-free over a distance of 340 metres to the East and West banks of New River.
The two Gikens were fed by a 25T crane working from a temporary modular crane platform, designed and manufactured by Ivor King, placed on top of previously installed sheet piles, which followed behind the two silent pilers.
