VIBRO HAMMER IN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UPS IN
TWO CONNECTICUT SITES
From our June 2001 newsletter

To keep clean soil from running into contaminated areas, the 428SH drives 25' steel sheeting almost completely underground.

Earth Technology, Inc., North Haven, CT, has been making good use of a Tramac 428SH Vibro Hammer in two major cleanup projects. According to Earth Technology’s President, Frank Ruocco, the unit has been surpassing expectations. He particularly commented on its ease of installation (it uses existing hydraulics and allows for 360° rotation without interference from hoses) and its smooth operation.

Removing Contaminated Soil in Hamden, CT
“Reaching” a Challenge
When Earth Technology got the green light to remove petroleum-impacted soil from a vacated industrial site being redeveloped for private use, they approached their dealer representative, Rick Parks from W.I. Clark, Wallingford, CT, for a Tramac 625SH sheet driver/extractor. Unfortunately, the 625SH was at another site. Parks was able to locate a 428SH attached to a John Deere 270 and, because time was of the essence, Earth Technology went ahead with the smaller unit.

The recently completed cleanup project covered several acres. Contaminated areas were identified through soil and water samplings (areas as large as 50' x 60'). Earth Technology shored up these areas with sheeting to prevent clean soil from eroding into their workspace,thereby minimizing the amount of soil that had to be removed. Once the contaminated soil was cleared, the area was retested. As analytical confirmation sampling warranted, each area was restored and the steel sheeting was extracted and used at the next spot.

The 3' soil platform gives extra reach needed for proper driving and extracting.

The smaller 428SH/John Deere 270 combination presented a challenge— its reach fell a few feet short of what was necessary to drive 25' steel interlocking sheeting, full depth, for an average of 13' excavation below grade.

Where there are challenges, there are solutions. Earth Technology cut a 3' to 4' pilot trench around their work areas. Working with the lower level, the excavator’s reach was sufficient to drive and extract the sheeting. In areas where a trench was not feasible, Earth Technology took the opposite approach and built a 3' soil ramp and rode the excavator on top.

Hartford's Adriaen's Landing–
Connecticut's Biggest Construction Project
Earth Technology broke ground on May 31, 2001 on the nearly $800 million Adriaen’s Landing complex which will include Hartford’s new Convention Center, shops and restaurants, and a 700-room deluxe hotel. The Convention Center itself will include a 140,000 sq. ft. exhibition hall, a 35,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting rooms.

The vibro hammer’s swivel head rotates 90°, simplifying the task of lifting pile sheets or beams from the ground..

Earth Technology is playing a vital role in this Brownfields redevelopment project and—through them—so is Tramac, with the 428SH vibro hammer, a Trapac compactor, and a V32 hammer.

Sections of the 33-acre development site are on land that was formerly occupied by a gas manufacturing plant. Earth Technology is responsible for utility relocation—gas, water, sewer, storm and electrical. According to Frank Ruocco, his teams will be there approximately 15 months.

The 428SH is being used to drive H-piles and wood logs to stabilize the soil around trenches that are more than 4' deep. Frank credits the vibro hammer for its versatility and speed. (The SH—or swivel head—models allow the hammer to rotate 90° so the body is parallel to the ground, making it easy to clamp onto and lift pile sheets or beams from the ground.)