A major roadway in California’s Bay Area presented a multitude of challenges to the state’s Department of Transportation, where a sizeable 140-linear foot portion of bluff supporting the road was sliding out to sea. While the highway needed to be stabilized immediately, the DOT’s environmental department required that the repair stay within the department’s current right of way. The coastal commission required little or no shoreline impact for the bluff’s stabilization.
GeoStabilization International®, soil nail wall contractors and soil stabilization experts, collaborated with various CALTRANS sections and the emergency limited-bid prime contractor to develop a subterranean repair system that met the design criteria outlined by the agency. With the supplied geotechnical soils data, GeoStabilization designed a soil nailing repair requiring minor excavation just outside the edge of pavement, 50-foot long self-drilling SuperNails™ for soil anchors, 40-foot long self-drilling SuperMicropiles™, and 1,400 square feet of shotcrete. While the soil nails provided slope reinforcement, the micropiles provided a soil retention function to the slope. The excavated soil was then placed back over the repair before it was hydro-seeded with a native seed mix. All cementitious material was contained within the excavation pit and properly disposed of offsite. The DOT reported a cost savings of over $2 million compared to the site’s original planned capital improvement project.
At no additional cost, GeoStabilization installed inclinometer casings to verify performance. To date, readings indicate that the site is stable, and the slide has been mitigated. In addition to a standard 1-year material and workmanship warranty, the DOT enjoys a five-year project performance warranty from GeoStabilization International®.
At GeoStabilization International®, we provide innovative and cost-effective solutions for geohazard mitigation. Failing bluffs, shoreline erosion, landslides, and other geohazards can dangerously threaten our transportation infrastructure and require a rapid emergency response for public safety.
We can respond 24/7 for geohazard remediation, ensuring traffic on roadways can resume as soon as possible. Upon receiving your call, one of our representatives will assess the site to provide our design engineers with the necessary data to develop a solution for your specific application.
Contact GeoStabilization International® at 855-579-0536 to learn how our teams are mitigating landslides and providing residential slope stabilization, slope monitoring, slope protection, and landslide prevention services.
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.
