A bridge wing wall and bridge abutments need to be sturdy, regardless of the type of bridge or the geography of its area. Mechanically stabilized earth (or MSE) is one of the keys to this stability. Our company, GeoStabilization International®, is an industry leader in geohazard mitigation for bridge rehab, bridge replacement, and other construction projects of any scale.
In this project, a prime contractor constructed a MSE bridge abutment with a design height of 20 feet before realizing that the grades leading up to the bridges would require abutments in excess of 30 feet. Rather than tear out the existing panels and reinforcements, the contractor called GeoStabilization International® to see if the abutments could be remediated in place.
GeoStabilization’s engineers, working with the contractor’s consulting engineers, designed a Self-drilling SuperNail® array to compensate for the inadequate reinforcement lengths behind the existing panels. GeoStabilization’s purpose-built SuperNailer™ drill rig completed the repairs by reaching through the bridge supports to access the wall panels. In less than two weeks, the prime contractor was back on schedule with stable abutments and only minimal project delays.
MSE forms many wing walls in bridge abutments, but MSE retaining walls require occasional repair and reinforcement. At GeoStabilization International®, we are proud to provide these repairs. Rehabilitating MSE retaining walls can often cost 70% less than replacing them, and the surface of the restored wall can precisely match the original.
In addition, the newly engineered solutions can have a design life of 75 years or more, and the project lasts weeks instead of months. At GeoStabilization International®, we offer a suite of repair and rehabilitation solutions that minimize the impact on the local environment, not to mention surrounding infrastructure and roadways. This is better for the project’s bottom line, as well.
Our team at GeoStabilization International® has over two decades of experience in repairing and replacing all forms of mechanically stabilized earth, including bridge wing walls, steel pile walls, historic rock walls, and gabion retaining walls.
Many engineers build steel pile walls and gabion retaining walls to improper specifications, getting the base-to-height ratios wrong or underestimating the impact of landslides. Meanwhile, they often construct MSE walls without considering compaction or drainage. Repairing these errors is nearly always possible, and usually the preferred option over rebuilding entirely.
Repairing an MSE wall in-place is nearly always superior to tearing it down and building a new one. Proactive repairs can prevent major problems such as future erosion and even landslides.
Repairing engineered soil generally takes weeks instead of months. In any construction project, time is money, and the gold standard is to complete projects quickly and well. MSE repairs allow both of these. This saves costs even before considering the cost of materials.
MSE retaining walls also reduce the impact on a project’s neighbors — not just the people who live and work in the area, but the whole environment.
Finally, our skilled engineers can craft MSE retaining walls to match even historic stone walls, adding strength and stability while preserving the appearance of an area. Even when a wall is severely deteriorated, it may be possible to stabilize the earth and restack the stone.
For projects such as repairing a bridge wing wall or reinforcing a bridge abutment, GeoStabilization International® has a team of experts across the United States and Canada. We reduce delays and minimize costs while using state-of-the-art geohazard mitigation techniques. Call us at 855-579-0536 to learn more about how we can help.
If you are interested in a no-obligation site visit to determine if our services fit your geohazard mitigation needs, call us at 855-579-0536 or fill out our contact form.
