Video: The Olympic Park: soil cleaning
 

Dominated for more than 100 years by light industry, the 2.5 km² site was contaminated and its waterways choked. Beginning with the ODA's head of infrastructure, Simon Wright, we learn about the scale of the task faced by Atkins, the firm charged with leading what was to become the most comprehensive enabling works ever undertaken in the UK.

Atkins project director Mike McNicholas and Atkins Environmental Consultant Nin Prakash explain how initial work included in-depth 'desk surveys', the sinking of 3,000 bore holes – some with the aid of sonic drilling – and extensive on-site laboratory analysis.

The project involved the excavation of 2.3 million m³ of soil, 800,000 m³ of which were washed in five soil cleaning machines. But other treatments such as Bioremediation (in which oxygen is used to accelerate the breakdown of waste by bugs) and stabilisation technologies are also explored.

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• To see the full version of this programme, go to NBS TV

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• Material risks
• Damp and condensation

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