From building pit to reinforced soil

On behalf of the Spanish FCC, Bonneveld has been working for several years on the widening of the A9 between Badhoevedorp and Holendrecht. The family business from Bunschoten operates on the project with not one, but two entities: Bonneveld Aannemingsbedrijf and Bonneveld Gewapende Grondconstructies. Both entities operate completely independently, taking on a subproject from A to Z and occasionally making grateful use of each other's expertise.

Bonneveld Armed Ground Constructions has been involved in the extensive A9 project from the beginning. "We have been providing EPS and reinforced soil structures since 2021," says Leon van der Heiden on behalf of Bonneveld Armed Earthworks. "With the contracting company behind us, we are able to take on work very broadly. And that is appreciated by our client. We operate completely independently." Meanwhile, they are already working on the tenth subproject. "In the initial phase, by the way, we also realized sheet piling anchoring with geo-plastics, anchored in the body of the ground. It's a faster method than using traditional grout anchors that additionally takes up less space."

Complete building pit 

The contracting company is also making a substantial contribution to the A9 project. "We have now had the opportunity to carry out six subprojects," says Stefan Albers on behalf of Bonneveld Aannemingsbedrijf. "We started by realizing a couple of underwater pits as a foundation for the pillars of new artworks. Fairly modest in terms of volume, but involving all facets: excavation in the wet, diving, pouring concrete, pumping empty and delivering the basin clean. In short, the complete package. In the case of two pits, we also had to make a watertight connection to an existing sheet pile wall. For this diving work and the underwater welding, we used one of our regular partners Qceas from Beusichem. Incidentally, they also took care of the concrete pour with us."

Special equipment

The accessibility of the construction pits was also "a thingy" at some locations. However, not for Bonneveld Aannemingsbedrijf. Stefan: "We have a large fleet of machines which we often adapt in-house for the specialist work we do. Our long boom cranes therefore come in handy here on the A9." We also see sludge lines, cap pumps, polymer plants, squeeze bins, piping, jet pumps and so much more equipment in Bonneveld's colors on the project. "We don't depend on anyone except the diving company," Stefan says proudly. "That's where we really make a difference." The contracting company's equipment, especially the long-boom cranes, are also regularly used for applying the EPS. "That makes the process a lot less labor-intensive, which in turn is nice for our guys outside," says Leon.

Anyway, both Bonneveld entities benefit from each other's expertise. "For example, we leave the earthwork in such a way that no additional operations are required for the application of the EPS." Leon concludes, "With the knowledge and skills from the contracting industry, we are able to provide clients with a total offer, including finishing and drainage, reinforced soil and EPS constructions. And the Spanish FCC makes grateful use of that." The project is not over for Bonneveld for the time being. "We are still in the race for a number of EPS constructions and, in addition, some small building pits still need to be realized." To be continued!