Latvian Border Project

In Latvia, a critical border-security project for the Latvian Government was delivered: long wooden pathways for border patrol, across extremely soft, swampy terrain. The work required more than 19,500 helical piles, with lengths from 2 to 17 m.

The site conditions were the main challenge. The thick swamp layer made traditional methods impractical, and other piling types carried a high risk of machinery getting stuck in the soft ground. Helical piles were the only viable option: they install with light equipment and minimal disturbance, yet still deliver reliable load capacity.

To keep the solution safe and cost-efficient, test piling was carried out in several locations and pull-out test results were analysed to set the optimal pile size, reliable without oversizing.

Part of the piles were installed by an in-house team, working closely with local contractors who were supplied with Digga installation equipment. After piling, custom U-brackets were fitted to the pile tops for fast, simple assembly of the wooden structures.

19,500 helical piles · 2 to 17 m · extremely soft swamp · light equipment · custom U-brackets