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Ram Jack Texas Installs (21) Helical Piles & Tiebacks for a Skybridge & Porte Cochere on a Commercial Property in Houston, TX
Problem
Ashston Sawing & Drilling reached out to Ram Jack Commercial Texas for support on a new construction project involving the installation of a Skybridge and Porte Cochere at a commercial property located at 10700 North Freeway in Houston, Texas. The structure’s design required deep foundation support, and initial structural drawings were prepared by the Engineer of Record, Walker Consultants.
While the engineering team had a solid plan in place, including structural loads and a geotechnical report, the installation site posed unexpected challenges. As the Ram Jack team began driving 2 7/8” helical piles and tiebacks, they encountered numerous underground obstructions not previously identified in site assessments. Adding to the complexity, incoming weather threatened to delay progress. Maintaining the project timeline and budget became a pressing concern for all involved parties.
Proposed Solution
Fortified Engineering partnered with Ram Jack to design a custom helical pile and tieback system based on the provided structural and geotechnical data. The solution included a layout of 21 piles, averaging 66 feet in depth, and utilizing 2 7/8” diameter threaded helical piles with both perpendicular and parallel tiebacks. 4079 new construction brackets were attached to the pile heads and encased in the new concrete pile caps.
The installation plan prioritized efficiency and flexibility, with the Ram Jack crew preparing for quick mobilization and immediate pile cap pours once the system was in place. Knowing weather delays were likely, the team worked closely with Ashston and Fortified to align every step of the process and adapt quickly on site.
Outcome
Despite encountering unexpected underground obstacles and facing tight deadlines due to poor weather, the Ram Jack team executed the full pile and tieback installation in just two days.
Thanks to the expertise of the installation crew and seamless coordination with Fortified Engineering, Ram Jack remained on budget and completed the work on time. Ashston was able to pour the pile caps the next day, successfully beating the storm and keeping their construction schedule intact.
This project demonstrates the value of an experienced foundation team that can adapt quickly to site conditions and collaborate across disciplines to deliver reliable results under pressure.
Summer 2025
