Temporary Shoring for Public Transportation Highway

The Department of Transportation (DOT) of a northeastern U.S. state contracted GeoStabilization International® to provide emergency temporary shoring and slope stabilization on a public highway.

After inspecting the site, GeoStabilization’s engineers recommended a shoring system consisting of 5,000 square feet of launched soil nails, high-capacity galvanized steel mesh, and geotextile fabric.

The DOT maintenance teams prepared the site with their own resources, and GeoStabilization installed the stabilization system. That enabled the DOT forces to safely install stream slope armoring for added protection using large-diameter riprap.

Temporary Shoring Using Launched Soil Nails

GeoStabilization International® utilizes the latest and most effective temporary shoring technology, including launched soil nails and SuperNails™.

Launched soil nails are ideal for shoring deep ruptures on congested sites. This technology uses relatively lightweight, portable equipment and does not require extensive steel fabrication. Launched soil nailing also eliminates the need to wait for the cement in the drill holes to harden, as launched nails can bear load immediately upon installation.

Crucially, the Soil Nail Launcher™ can shore up more square feet per day while the crews work on the primary excavation. This translates into significantly faster installation times and up to 30% cost savings compared to conventional soil nail installation methods, as well as ground anchors and tiebacks.

In cuts or excavations where groundwater may be an issue, perforated launched nails can be used to create horizontal drains in a system of soldier piles.

GeoStabilization can install launched soil nails in remote and limited-access sites as well as areas with active traffic. In this case, GeoStabilization’s teams were able to carry out the work from the active roadway platform while allowing uninterrupted alternating traffic on the opposite lane.

High-Capacity Steel Mesh

High-capacity galvanized steel wire mesh, with or without post-tensioning, provides highly effective erosion protection and helps direct soil nail forces into the compromised rock and soil slopes underneath. In many cases, these systems also provide a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to shotcrete, as they allow the slope to drain freely and encourage vegetation regrowth.

GeoStabilization International® uses three main high-capacity mesh systems:

• Trumer’s High-Performance Netting: High-Performance Netting (HPN) and HPN+ are the only high-tensile mesh systems with isotropic strength of 150 kN/m and above. They can help mitigate shallow landslides and slope erosion.
• Macaferri’s MacMat^®: This permanent erosion control mat features UV-stabilized, non-degradable synthetic fibers and a skeleton of double-twisted steel wire mesh.
• Geobrugg’s TECCO^® System: One of the most robust mesh products available today, this system is an alternative to concrete or shotcrete surface treatment and traditional heavy net systems for stabilizing steep, weathered slopes.

North America’s Premier Excavation Shoring Company

GeoStabilization International® is a global leader in geohazard mitigation, slope control, temporary shoring, engineered soil repairs, and landslide prevention. The company maintains 24-hour emergency response capability and the industry’s largest fleet of proprietary limited-access equipment. Contact GeoStabilization to learn more about its services or request assistance with a project.