Juliet Bund, Gatwick Airport

In order to accommodate the wingspan of the new Airbus A380, the Juliet taxiway at Gatwick Airport required widening and the Juliet bund, (the sound barrier which suppresses the noise made by the aeroplanes), needed to be partially retained for excavation. Suttle Projects were contracted to carry out this work.

Utilising a Klemm 709 with 600mm auger, bore holes were created for the 69 steel kingposts, which were drilled to 15m depth.  The steel UC sections were then inserted into the correct position using a Movax side grip specialist piling hammer before the concrete was poured to the desired level around the pile.  When the concrete had cured, the pile mat was excavated, exposing the lower parts of the UC sections.  Designed concrete panels were then lifted into place to complete the wall.

The kingposts weighed up to 1.5 tonnes each. Suttle Projects also supplied and installed 420m² of pre-cast concrete panels.

This job involved navigating substantial operational difficulties, including having to cease working while aeroplanes passed the site.  Taxiway routing at Gatwick is very much dictated by wind direction and this demanded flexibility in our approach resourcing and works programme, to meet the client’s demanding and important requirements.