Airport Car Park Gantry Installations | Ground Investigation

We were commissioned to undertake a targeted ground investigation to inform the design of foundations for three proposed overhead gantries located at vehicle exit points within Manchester airport car parks.

The purpose of the investigation was to provide geotechnical information to support foundation design and assess the suitability of the underlying ground conditions.

Scope of Works

To minimise disruption within these operational car park environments, a focused and efficient site investigation was undertaken at each proposed gantry location. The works comprised: 

• Window sample boreholes to establish the ground profile and identify near-surface strata. 

• Lightweight Deflectometer (LWD) testing to assess ground stiffness and derive equivalent California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values for design purposes. 
• Collection of representative samples for geotechnical classification and waste assessment. 

The investigation was planned and executed to obtain the data required for foundation design while maintaining the safe operation of the surrounding car parks. 

Geotechnical Assessment 

The findings from the site investigation were analysed and presented within a detailed geotechnical report. This provided: 

• Characterisation of the encountered ground conditions. 

• Equivalent CBR values derived from LWD testing. 

• Foundation recommendations for the proposed overhead gantries. 

• Concrete specification recommendations based on the ground and environmental conditions encountered. 

• Waste assessment information to support the classification and potential off-site disposal of any excavated materials. 

Outcome 

The investigation provided the necessary geotechnical data to support the design and construction of the proposed gantry foundations. By undertaking a targeted site investigation, the project team received clear, practical recommendations for foundation options, material specifications, and waste management requirements, allowing the scheme to progress efficiently through the design stage. 

This project demonstrates our ability to deliver focused, cost-effective site investigations that provide designers with the essential information required for small infrastructure projects within live operational environments.