The excavation and drilling works at Jenolan Caves Road, Hampton involved a multi-stage program occurring at two sites, with excavators sequentially excavating benches and installing rows of soil nails. McIlwain engaged BG&E to conduct lift studies, geological mapping and certification – essential components of the temporary works required to restore the road asset.

Due to the slope’s sensitivity, the surcharge loads from excavators needed approval from the geotechnical consultant to ensure safe operations. The allowable loads varied depending on the project stage, as the slope was progressively stabilised with each row of soil nails installed.

BG&E’s construction engineering team classified the construction staging into a series of lift cases, characterised by the model and configuration of the excavator used and the reach and arm loading required for the activity for that stage.

BG&E developed in-house tools to rapidly undertake the lift studies, allowing for the assessment of ground loading for every combination of construction activity and excavator required by the contractor, who utilised varying sizes of excavators as the works progressed – easing loading constraints and increasing reach requirements. It also enabled us to quickly respond to changes in the availability of plant and assess loads from alternative machines as required by the contractor.

In addition to the temporary works for the Hampton Downslope Remediation project, BG&E’s commission encompassed geotechnical soil nail inspections and geological mapping, ensuring comprehensive stabilisation and recovery efforts in the affected area.