Design and Construction of Driven Pile Foundations—Lessons Learned on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

Pile foundations are used extensively for the support of buildings, bridges, and other structures to
safely transfer structural loads to the ground and to avoid excess settlement or lateral movement.
They are very effective in transferring structural loads through weak or compressible soil layers
into the more competent soils and rocks below. A “driven pile foundation” is a specific type of
pile foundation where structural elements are driven into the ground using a large hammer. They
are commonly constructed of timber, precast prestressed concrete (PPC), and steel (H-sections
and pipes).
Historically, piles have been used extensively for the support of structures in Boston, MA. This
is mostly a result of the need to transfer loads through the loose fill and compressible marine
clays that are common in the Boston area. Driven piles, in particular, have been a preferred
foundation system because of their relative ease of installation and low cost. They have played
an important role in the Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) project.
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