EKB News

KENTUCKY...
By Brandon Roberts:
Some people around Pikeville may have felt the ground shake a bit the
past few days.

Several pieces of large equipment have been moved onto the site of what will be the
new Pike County Judicial Center.

One piece of equipment, a multipurpose vibratory hammer, made its way to Pike County
from Houston, Texas, and its sole purpose is to improve subsurface foundation for
the new building.

“This particular site had poor subsurface conditions,” Jim King, Project Coordinator
for the Administrative Office of the Courts said. “As a result, it requires
extensive preparation and soil stabilization.”

That’s where the large machines come into the picture.

The 180,000 pound multipurpose vibrating hammer’s sole purpose is soil improvement.

Tom Ewalt of Bauer/Pile Coal is an expert in regard to this machine.

“What this machine does is send down another machine that digs and loosens up the
soil on its way down,” Ewalt said. “On its way back up, it shoots concrete slurry
back into the loose soil, which creates a very solid foundation.”
According to Ewalt, the machine will be here until the entire foundation is
completely stable.