The expertise of foundation engineering specialist Bauer Egypt was recently called on to link two arterial bridges in Cairo in a bid to ease the flow of traffic in the bustling Egyptian capital.

"The 6th of October Bridge and 15th of May Bridge - with its 26th of July Highway extension - represent the main traffic axes in Cairo, connecting most of the greater Cairo suburbs with downtown Cairo," explains a spokesman for Bauer Egypt. "The aim of the authorities in Egypt was to connect these two main axes, allowing a better flow of traffic."

The main contractor, Arab Contractors, employed the services of Bauer Egypt not only to execute the bored cast-in-situ piles for the 15th of May Bridge extension up to the 6th of October Bridge, but also to construct the piles necessary to add a new traffic lane to the 6th of October bridge.

"A total of 342 piles in diameters of 800 mm had to be installed, 42 of them under the existing 6th of October Bridge, which allowed a limited working head room of only 7 m," the spokesman says. " The depth of the piles were given at 21 m."

"To avoid costly alternatives to these piles, not to mention delays to the project schedule, Bauer Egypt undertook the challenge to provide the main contractor with an innovative solution to construct the piles using standard Bauer rotary drilling rigs.

"For this purpose, Bauer Egypt utilised its vast knowledge and experience to modify the mast of an existing Bauer drilling rig type BG 9 and to develop a special kelly to successfully construct the piles under the limited head room."

Bauer Egypt is part of the Bauer group, one of the world's leading exponents of foundation engineering as well as a leading manufacturer of foundation engineering equipment.

A total workforce of 3,800 operate under the Bauer logo and generate a turnover of $422 million a year.

The group's headquarters is based in Schrobenhausen, Germany.

The family business evolved from a coppersmith's shop founded in 1790.