Ritchies wins two awards at the Ground Engineering Awards 2008

Nuttall's geotechnical experts, Ritchies, won two project awards at the inaugural Ground Engineering Awards held in London on 18 February 2008. This superb double result clearly confirms Ritchies as the leading UK geotechnical contractor in both Public and Private sectors.

Ritchies' entry - A40 & M50 Cuttings Stabilisation - won the Geotechnical / Geoenvironmental Public Sector Project under £1M category Award. This work was at ten locations near Ross-on-Wye. It was necessary following the effects of continual weathering on cuttings formed by drill and blast that had already dilated fissures in the rock. Different weathering conditions required a variety of solutions, which themselves required flexibility as geotechnical circumstances became apparent during the course of the project. Measures included scaling and re-profiling, rockfall net installation, structural support mesh, rock bolting, anchors, dowelling and masonry dentition.

Ritchies' entry - Clunie Dam Post Tensioning - won the Geotechnical / Geoenvironmental Private Sector Project under £1M category Award. The strengthening works at the Clunie Dam in Perthshire were carried out in a tightly confined area while maintaining normal reservoir levels. The solution to use a mini-rig rather than flying in equipment provided cost and programme savings. The choice of scheme reduced environmental influence and helped ensure there were no ecological incidents.

Further information: www.geawards.com