Laguna Beach, Calif. PCH
Unique Features:
This project exemplifies many unique features of the Stresswall Product. The project developer for the South Coast Medical Center Hospital expansion project, Sheldon Pollock in Santa Monica, requested that we provide a wall that would eliminate shoring that would have been required for any other wall option to support the existing Hospital embankment.
We proposed the “Terrace Wall” counterfort wall option which could be installed w/o shoring. A new building was to be constructed in front of and at a lower elevation than the existing five story structure. To do this a portion of the sloping embankment in front of the existing center would have to be removed w/o disturbing the existing building (maximum allowed settlement would have to be less than 0.5 inch!
To accomplish this the contractor cut deep slots into the existing slope between the existing deep caisson foundation for the existing structure. Since the site was is a stones throw from the ocean there is always a risk of morning rains etc. so the contractor was required to provide a site cover to eliminate any potential erosion should storms occur during wall construction. The slope face was covered every night and over weekends.
Following the slot cutting the contractor placed the open face counterforts in the slots and backfilled the portion of the counterforts w/in the slot cuts with slurry. Subsequently the .5 meter wide wall panels were placed in the Terrace Wall reverse batter voids.
Due the the spacing and orientation of the wall panels there is approximately half of the wall face area that could be planted. By selecting maintenance free, continuously blooming plants with an emitter irrigation system the concrete members quickly disappeared as the planting matured. As can be seen from the shots the result is a constantly changing pallet of color instead of a stark industrial look as would be the case for a conventional wall. In addition, the wall reduces the effect highway and other noise sources which is an advantage for patients in the new structure.
At the request of the ASCE we presented the Project for their annual meeting due to the unique features and advantages of the counterfort wall system.
| Area |
Sheldon Pollock Client |
Plantable Wall Scope Of Work |
Pacifica, Calif.
Unique Features:
The precast wall was an alternate in the Woodward-Clyde bid package and was selected by Granite Construction over the MSE wall alternate. An integral wave deflector was monolithically cast with the top wall panels instead of the field cast cap that was shown for the MSE wall.
Prior to the wall installation a trench was cut into the slope and a cip cut off wall was constructed behind rip rap. The precast wall components were then installed. Since sand was used for wall fill filter fabric/geotextiles were placed over the fill side of the precast elements.
The wall has been subjected to many extreme load conditions compared to a typical seawall/erosion control structure. Locals claim that the tallest wave ever recorded in North America occurred at Pacifica. There are shots of these giant waves at local establishments. Some smaller waves are shown crashing into the wall in the shots.
Also the wall was impacted by the San Francisco earthquake which hit shortly after the wall was completed. The existing MSE wall north of the fishing pier has not fared so well. We understand that due to the corrosion of the metal soil reinforcement and movement fill has been lost from behind the wall. To address this issue the city has apparently refilled voids with concrete fill. There have been no issues with the Stresswall Structure.
| Area |
City of Pacifica Client |
Scope Of Work |
Wiley Canyon Road
Unique Features:
To lengthen the radius of a curve as well as to smooth out the road alignment a cut was required for Wiley Canyon. To accomplish this without shoring the Stresswall system was selected. Although the wall face is at a 1:12 batter (essentially vertical) random planting areas within the wall face for internal landscaping options were made possible with the large random planting “pockets” in the wall face. Plants included both large flowering bushes as well as vines and ivy.
The counterforts were placed in slots cut into the existing embankment so that no shoring was required as would have been the case for other wall options. Wall cut was utilized for wall fill.
| Area |
Noveco Inc. Client |
Installation of Stresswall into Existing Slope Scope Of Work |
SR 31 @ Canadian Border
Unique Features:
Single tier seawall structure placed along WashDOT SR31 at the Canadian Border.
The counterforts were placed in slots cut into the existing roadway embankment. Due to the constant border traffic it was necessary to construct the wall as one lane was kept open. Other wall options would have required shoring.
Cut material was utilized for wall fill.
| Area |
WashDOT Client |
Seawall for Embankment Support Scope Of Work |
Sorrento Valley, Calif.
Unique Features:
By utilizing the “slot cut” installation method temporary shoring was eliminated that would have been requires for other wall types. Therefore the overall wall cost and construction time was greatly reduced compared to other wall options.
| Area |
Noveco Inc. Client |
Cut Wall w/o shoring Scope Of Work |
El Cajon Calif.
Unique Features:
This essentially vertical wall supports high E 80 loads (night traffic) and LRT commuter rail traffic during the day. By using reverse batter counterforts a planting space is provided between the wall tiers. Internal wall landscaping is unique to the Stresswall System and softens and aesthetically blends the wall face into the environment while eliminating the possibility of graffiti on the wall surface and associated removal costs.
| Area |
National Projects Client |
E 80 & LRT Tiered Wall Scope Of Work |
Fletcher Parkway at Jackson Dr. La Mesa, Calif.
Unique Features:
This ASCE award winning wall is the result of a value engineering proposal submitted to SANDAG (formerly MTDB) by the contractor. The original plan design was a typical MSE wall that required very specific wall fill. All of the wall components are precast/prestressed elements and were made locally. The essentially vertical wall with internal planting offset between the counterfort tiers are possible due to the unique revers batter counterfort configuration. Morrison Knudsen was the engineer for the wall.
Brad Lewis (with KTU&A), the landscape architect, selected indigenous plants that alternatively bloomed continuously so that the wall face always has a variable color pallet. Since emitters are used for irrigation water use is at a minimum.
One of the factors that added VECP was the reduced cost of fill for the counterfort wall compared to the MSE wall. By utilizing construction debris from a landfill substantial savings were realized. In addition, the erection rate for the counterfort wall was substanially faster than would have been the case for an MSE wall.
The MSE wall also required internal cip foundation supports for the catenary poles for rail power lines. Due to the structural capacity of the precast counerforts special counterforts were designed to support both the top tier wall panels and to be utilized as foundation support members for the catenary poles.
This wall, as well as other Stresswalls supplied to SANDAG, are designed for locomotive E 80 traffic. During the day the rails are used by LRT lines whereas at night freight lines utilize the line.
| Area |
Herzog Construction Client |
32' High Rail Wall Scope Of Work |
Arizona
Unique Features:
This project is the result of a VECP proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation by the contractor. The wall supports the access road to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Power Station.
The original design was a typical massive cip wall. Field testing determined that ground anchors would be required to both pre-compress the insitu soil as well as enhance wall stability. Therefore the wall has a unique foundation configuration. By including a cip grade beam with vertically oriented mini piles over which the counterforts were placed provided adequate foundation bearing capacity for the wall. In addition, following placement of the base counterforts, ground anchors (tie backs) where inserted through the cip grade beam that was cast over the tails of the counterforts.
Following the installation of the base tiers and anchors the subsequent upper tier components were placed. Site excavated cut material was used for wall fill.
| Area |
Bureau of Reclamation Client |
Scope Of Work |
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