Arthurs Pass, New Zealand
Background
CWM provided alternative retaining wall design solutions to the Smith Crane Construction / Hawkins Infrastructure Project Team on the Mingha Bluff to Rough Creek State Highway 72 realignment. The widening and realignment of a number of tight curves and narrow road sections required retaining walls both above and below the road and in close proximity to the Trans Alpine rail corridor. The retaining wall system selected incorporated an integral vehicle collision barrier and comprised Stone Strong Blocks with a combination of rock anchors and para web geotextile reinforcement strips.
Scope
- Design and documentation of anchored, geotextile reinforced and gravity Stone Strong retaining walls up to 5.5 metres in height.
- Incorporation of vehicle collision barrier loads in the structure in addition to static and seismic loading.
- Construction observation and monitoring
- High seismic loading alpine environment.
- Transfer of vehicle impact loads to anchors via reinforced columns in the retaining structure.
- Improving construction efficiency given remote location and optimising speed of construction to reduce impaction on adjacent rail line operations.
- Design modification during construction to accommodate difficult ground conditions
Wall 1 with Trans Alpine rail line adjacent
Foundation Construction
Wall construction with barrier load transfer column reinforcing visible