Long reach excavators often work away un-noticed in secluded lakes and quarries but a unit from the specialist plant hire fleet of Land & Water has recently completed a very public job. The pontoon mounted Volvo VK440 long reach machine was used by Mowlem (Marine) to help complete the preparation works associated with a major refurbishment of Westminster Bridge on the River Thames.
Having been scoured by the running water, the foundations of Westminster Bridge are being enclosed with sheet piling which is in-filled with concrete. The 21m long reach excavator complete with a computerised digging system has been used to create a level platform on the riverbed prior to the driving of the piles.
The machine worked in the shadow of Big Ben in full view of people passing over Westminster Bridge, taking tourist boat trips along the river or flying high in the nearby London Eye. The computerised digging system gave the VK440 operator an image of his bucket and a target dig depth on a screen in his cab so that he could attain the level platform required, out of sight, underwater. |
