Soil remediation and earthwork

Living/working area Little C is being realized on one of the last free building sites on the edge of Rotterdam's inner city. A location that until recently was characterized by traffic lanes, lots of concrete, a streetcar track and a large sandbox, where the parking garage of the Erasmus MC and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen used to be located.

Text | Lieke van Zuilekom    Image | VMV Projects B.V.

To prepare the site for construction and residential use, VMV Projecten B.V., a specialist in soil remediation, groundwork, outside sewers and site design, was responsible for soil remediation and groundwork. This was commissioned by Bouwcombinatie Little C V.O.F. (TBI companies ERA Contour and J.P. van Eesteren) and in close cooperation with the other parties involved.

"Prior to construction, several soil investigations were conducted," says Henk Hazeleger, director of VMV Projecten B.V.. "This revealed several contaminants, for which an extensive remediation plan was drawn up. Using special machines with overpressure and a GPS system, we separately excavated approximately 65,000 tons of soil in 11 sub-streams. All contaminated soil was offered to approved processors, who cleaned the soil. We transported the remaining applicable soil to various reuse locations. We then applied a clean, new and load-bearing subsoil for the purpose of the piling."

VMV Projects excavated the foundations and backfilled them after pouring. "We also brought the floor fields into profile so that the contractor could pour the concrete floor without any problems," Hazeleger said. "An extensive job, but the biggest challenge was the time constraints. In just eight weeks, we successfully completed the soil remediation and installed the new foundation. In doing so, we worked very closely and well with the client and the other parties involved. We then excavated and backfilled the foundations in phases. The lines of communication were short and there was fast switching, which we found very pleasant."

Currently, VMV Projecten B.V. is still providing the connection of the sewers.