I thumb my way through the Internet daily, and sometimes my fingers stop on an interesting story or two. Here are a few in the foundation drilling sector that I wanted to share with National Driller readers.

 

First off, I wrote recently about geothermal HVAC systems holding their own during Hurricane Sandy. That story talked mainly about the immediate aftermath of the storm. Plenty of cleanup and rebuilding continues, and that's where Sidd & Associates comes in. The Millstone, N.J.-based company won the contract to rebuild the boardwalk in nearby Seaside Heights (an area made famous by a certain TV show; if you don't know what I'm talking about, ask your kids).

 

The Seaside Heights project involves drilling 2,000 pilings before Memorial Day. And this Asbury Park Press story says the company will get fined $7,500 a day for each day the project runs past May 10. No pressure.

 

You can see pictures of the project here.

 

The second story I wanted to share is from the New York Daily News. Reporter David Knowles speaks with architect Marwan Nader talks about the challenges of building the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge will replace one damaged in a 1989 earthquake. Readers may remember seeing pictures of a portion of the upper bridge deck that had collapsed onto the deck below it.

 

The $6.4 billion project is called the most expensive public works project in California history. I believe it: The bridge was built to withstand a 7.0 Richter scale or greater earthquake. The concrete-reinforced steel pilings plunge 300 feet below the floor of the bay.

 

One last project: In January, Bauer subsidiary Bauer Foundations Australia Pty Ltd., started installing foundation piles in the port of Sydney as part of the Barangaroo South project there. The goal is to backfill a former container port and build an ambitious extension of Sydney's central business district with three office towers and a shared, three-story substructure. Bauer is boring 1,000 piles about 115 feet deep and with diameters of up to almost eight feet. Read more about the project here. Piling work is expected to wrap up in June.

 

That's all for now. If you want to share foundation projects or other challenging drilling jobs, send an email to verduscoj@bnpmedia.com.