Steep Slope Drilling in Tennessee

Steep Slope Drilling in Tennessee

Engineered steep slope drilling across Tennessee—I-40. Design/build solutions for TDOT corridors and critical infrastructure.

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Spider excavator operating on steep slope stabilization

Steep Slope Drilling Across Tennessee

Tennessee's steep slope drilling challenges concentrate in the Great Smoky Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, where I-40 and US-441 cross sandstone and metamorphic faces that TDOT manages across some of the most visited national park terrain in the country — combining extreme grade with high public visibility.

GSI's SPIDER excavator experience shapes how these situations get addressed across the state.

Geohazard Mitigation in Tennessee

Let the Specialists Handle the Slope

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How GSI Delivers Steep Slope Drilling in Tennessee

Track-Mounted and Walking Excavator Drilling

Cumberland Plateau sandstone cuts and Smoky Mountain metamorphic faces both fall within reach of GSI's SPIDER excavator, which walks steep terrain on six legs rather than requiring the wide staging area a wheeled rig needs. GSI's Soil Nail Launcher™ capability supports this step.

Anchored Drill Platforms

Sections of Tennessee's steepest faces offer no bench to stand equipment on at all — there, GSI bolts the drill platform directly to the rock and works from that anchored position. This is one application of GSI's broader soil nailing expertise.

Rope Access Drilling

On the Smokies' most extreme terrain, where park visitation adds scrutiny to every closure, rope-access drilling lets crews work by hand with a footprint too small to disrupt the tourist corridor below. GSI's engineers experience informs this approach.

This approach is informed by GSI's broader transportation infrastructure work across Tennessee.

Tennessee Steep Slope Drilling Process

GSI follows a systematic five-step process to deliver steep slope drilling solutions in TDOT corridors and beyond.

Step 1

Site Assessment

GSI engineers evaluate conditions and severity at your Tennessee site.

Step 2

Root Cause Investigation

In-house geologists investigate the specific conditions driving the issue, referencing Tennessee's Smoky Mountain metamorphics and Cumberland Plateau sandstone with karst terrain.

Step 3

Engineered Solution Design

Custom design matched to Tennessee's site-specific geology, hydrology, and infrastructure loading.

Step 4

Design/Build Execution

One team executes the engineered solution under a single TDOT-ready contract.

Warranty

Design/build/warranty coverage on every steep slope drilling solution installed in Tennessee.

Warranty

Design/build/warranty coverage on every steep slope drilling solution installed in Tennessee.

Spider drill on steep slope for rock breaking

Why Tennessee Trusts GSI for Steep Slope Drilling

Engineered for Tennessee's conditions. GSI's Tennessee steep slope fleet reaches Smoky Mountain and Cumberland Plateau terrain that combines extreme access difficulty with the visibility of the nation's most-visited national park corridor. It's backed by GSI's broader general contractors and our case studies capability.

Design/build delivery. One team carries the project from design to install — cutting out the delays that separate design from installation.

TDOT specification compliance. Documentation and field practices satisfy state DOT specifications from the earliest project submittal.

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Client Reviews

Safety-Focused Project Support for Commercial Client in Tennessee

I wanted to take a moment to express gratitude and satisfaction with the job that GSI performed for me.  This work was inside a very congested industrial environment which also had other potential hazards with the presence of alcohol. In addition to confined quarters inside the building we had extreme weather conditions taking place outside the building.  My client was on a critical path timeline and this required GSI to return the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I knew that this was a mandatory week off for GSI but your organization came through, no ifs, ands or buts.

1.) The job superintendent, Ian Turner, handled himself remarkably. He was professional and no matter what the situation he took ownership.

2.) Every person on my job site with GSI had an extraordinary attitude. Case in point: As I was giving a “pep talk” I commented, “some of you guys may be ready to go home”. Emanuel from Georgia, raised his head looked at me and said “no, we wanna finish this job”. Every single person on this project is welcome to work on my projects anytime!

3.) Jarrod Hartshorn was as stated in your company policies willing to communicate 24/7. He answered his phone night or day and if he didn’t in a short while I could expect a phone call.  Jarrod also drove to my project to check on things with me and with the crew working.

4.) One of the best safety programs I have ever witnessed! I enjoy doing “flex and stretch“ with the crew every morning. Thank you!

5.) Hats off to all those volunteers the week after Christmas.

I wish I could remember all names but a special thanks to everyone on my project [including] Preston, Emanuel, Ian, Cole, Cliff, Jarrod, Zach, and the maintenance guy from Kentucky.

Slope Stabilization and Drilling for Project in Tennessee

Wanted to let you know how great GSI has been to work with out here at [our site]. We have had difficult drilling conditions since day 1 and they have worked tirelessly through bad soil and bad weather to make sure our project is a success. We have really appreciated them going the extra mile for us out here…

Reliable Commercial Project Support in Tennessee

I’d like to say that it was a pleasure working with GSI. I would like to personally commend the efforts of Josh Kelly and his crew; Steven, Lee, Austin, and Trent. They went above and beyond to meet our schedule by working long hours, more importantly long “hard” hours. They are an extremely hard-working bunch who never complained and did whatever it took to get the job done, they are a crew that I would recommend to anyone. This speaks more importantly than anything else to the caliber of work that GSI performs. I believe that the relationship formed between [our company] and GSI on this project will lead to future partnerships on projects down the road and I hope that the mutual respect we’ve developed on this project will continue for years to come. Thanks again and please let Josh and his crew know that their hard work was greatly appreciated.

Steep Slope Drilling in Tennessee

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GSI's engineers are ready to assess steep slope drilling conditions at your Tennessee site.

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