Now here is something a bit different.
Ever need some concrete piers for that backyard project?
Well when we were in San Carlos, Sonora this winter a new bridge
was being built to replace one that was washed out by a hurricane last fall
providing much entertainment to the people wintering there including
myself. Above the crew is just starting to drill a hole with the auger bit
you see on the pile driver.
Once the auger bit gets deep enough a sleeve about 12' long
is inserted in the hole to keep the walls from collapsing in.
A new bit in a drum is attached to the driver to continue the bore
and digs deeper. The rebar you see sticking up is from completed holes
already poured.
The crew prepares the rebar cage that will go
into the hole before the concrete is poured.
In the background the shoot to pour the concrete is readied.
That is a deep whole, about 35'.
The idea is to get the footing down to solid ground
before building the abutment walls.
The bridge is right next to the Sea of Cortes so it needs to be solid.
Down it goes.
The crew drilling the piers is a sub-contractor to the general contractor
on this job. All they do is drill pilings with this machine made in Italy
and bought second hand. The owner is standing in the center of the
two laborers and the driver of the machine ( not seen in this photo ) has
worked all over the world including helping with the clean up after 9/11.
They are a top notch crew, incredibly dedicated
and hard working in what can be a dangerous job.
The shoot to pour the concrete is put in place.
The concrete is poured from the bottom up to displace the water that fills the hole.
Up on top the pumper truck is sending the concrete to the shoot
as the man in the foreground works on the test samples.
You can just barely see the hose from the pumper truck.
The water pouring out of the sleeve is being displaced
by the concrete pouring into the bottom of the hole.
The pour is over and the shoot is being removed.
The sleeve is removed.
After the concrete has set the rebar is cut off and the top foot or so of
concrete is removed to remove any concrete contaminated by the water
or dirt. Next I will show the wall being built on top of the piers.
Remember not to try this in your back yard.
This work is for professionals only.
