Bauer announced the completion of the Monte Grande project, an ambitious water infrastructure initiative in the southwestern province of Barahona, Dominican Republic, led by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI).

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In addition to controlling water levels in the Yaque del Sur River, the 55 m high dam will also be used for flood protection and hydropower generation. Other aspects include tourism and the use of dammed water for irrigation of agricultural land.

BAUER Fundaciones Dominicana S.R.L., a subsidiary of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, was commissioned to build a cut-off wall to seal the base of the dam.

Work began in May 2019 and was successfully completed in May 2020. In total, Bauer built around 26,000 m² of cut-off walls over a length of 1,350 m, up to an average depth of 23 m and a thickness of 800 mm below the base of the dam. Bauer Dominicana used a BAUER MC 96 work cycle crane with a BAUER BC 40 cutter, as well as a BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems BE 500 separation plant for the construction.

This project was the first time a trench cutter was used in the Dominican Republic, and was also the first time Bauer Dominicana has been part of a dam construction project.

A particularly challenging aspect was the extremely variable working height, which ranged from 152 my 197 m above sea level along the dam. "To cope with this height difference, 17 different working platforms were created from which the cut-off wall was built with a cutter", explained Bruno Luz, Project Manager of BAUER Fundaciones Dominicana S.R.L.

"We are very proud of our contribution to an infrastructure project that is so important for the region," says Bruno Luz in conclusion. "In addition to this, we were also able to gain experience in the construction of cutting walls with a cutter.