Emergency Landslide Repair in Wyoming

In 2017, another well above normal snowpack winter and heavy spring rains resulted in 23 new landslides, which damaged or threatened WYDOT roads. WYDOT turned to GSI to help respond to these emergency situations. GSI was able to respond very quickly and in most cases had personnel on site to assess the site within 24 hours. They would provide a proposal for remediation with a preliminary design and estimated costs within 48 hours in most cases. During 2017, GSI was selected to perform remediation with contracts at six separate sites. In all cases, they were prepared to mobilize to the sites and begin work within a week of being given notice to proceed.

A unique element of these emergency contracts was a partnership, between WYDOT and GSI, by which WYDOT provided some logistical support such as traffic control and providing water for drilling operations so that GSI could focus its efforts on performing the specialty work. This arrangement resulted in cost effective, efficient, successful projects. When responding to emergency landslide repair, time truly is money, the sooner a landslide can be remediated before it has a chance to grow, the less expensive it is to repair. In the past, WYDOT has experienced situations in which, landslides could possibly have been remediated quicker, experienced further failure during drawn out conventional design and contracting methods resulting in higher costs due to the additional failure. GSI uses various types of innovative geo-technology in their landslide remediation projects….

All of these projects were completed on schedule, even with cold weather conditions and snow storms ….

All of the stabilization projects that GSI completed for WYDOT included a warranty to repair any of the remediation that would happen to fail, but to date none of the work that they have performed has required any repair. I would highly recommend GeoStabilization International to perform emergency landslide and slope remediation work. They have the resources, personnel, and expertise to respond to your emergency in a timely, professional manner.

Emergency Safety Response for Mining Operations

On our weekly project update call at the mine, our meetings begin with a ‘safety share’. It’s usually filled with personal observations, mine traffic pattern changes to be conscientious of, or in this week’s meeting, a good catch by GSI’s Courtney Smith. There is a protocol to alert mine personnel working in the pit of any hazardous conditions, which includes highwall instabilities or severe weather approaching. Early hazard detection is critical at the mine as it is over 2.5 miles wide by almost a 1 mile deep. If warranted, the crews will need ample time to evacuate. With all the systems, risk controls and procedures in place to protect over 300 people working there, an onsite contractor (GSI) picked up on the lightning / weather quickly approaching and evacuated the slope. He then proceeded to advise mine dispatch of the situation, who in turn advised relevant mine crews (such as the drill & blast crew) that need to evacuate in the event of lightning. Courtney and crew should be commended on their proactive effort to let mine personnel know and not assume someone else was watching. The mine recognized this action and we should also take note of this courageous leadership to advise a mine with so many intimidating procedures in place to take action.

Emergency Retaining Wall Repair in New Mexico

I had the opportunity to work with GSI on an emergency repair of an earth retaining wall on Highway NM 475 at MM 11. This project was an emergency repair because the earth retaining wall is part of the roadway embankment, which was failing. Also, NM 475 is the only highway used to get to Ski Santa Fe. The NMDOT requested that GSI have repairs to the wall made before the kickoff to ski season. As I remember, there was not much advanced notice to proceed given. GSI was able to work in inclement weather, traveling hazardous roadways to get to the job site. The crew was good, they concentrated on production. They understood that this project needed to be expedited. The crew worked like a well-oiled machine. Apparently, some of the crew worked together on a previous project for six weeks. It showed because, for example, if one guy needed a pipe wrench, another guy already had it ready for him. Like I said above, the crew worked on production, they hustled, and did it all in a very safe manner. At the end, the wall had been completely repaired two days after the opening of Ski Santa Fe, which was good for all. I would highly recommend GSI on any future NMDOT projects.