MSE Retaining Wall Forensics Investigation

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls are designed and installed all over the country. When the time comes for them to be removed or replaced, little time is taken to evaluate the walls performance during its removal. How did the soil reinforcement survive? Did the structure backfill become contaminated with fines or animals? How did the drainage truly perform? Did deicer and other treatment chemicals penetrate deeper into the soil mass? As part of the F-12-AS I-70 eastbound bridge replacement scheduled to occur during the 2024 construction season, the MSE wall adjacent Vail Pass Safety Reconstruction project will excavate and replace a RECO MSE retaining wall adjacent to the bridge’s east abutment. This wall has been in place for almost 50 years providing a great opportunity to examine MSE wall life, design, soil reinforcement corrosion, corrosion location and resiliency along interstate highways in mountainous areas

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $160000
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Colorado Department of Transportation

  Applied Research and Innovation Branch
  Denver, CO  United States  80204
• Project Managers:

  Tran, Thien

• Start Date: 20240426
• Expected Completion Date: 20270630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Earth walls; Mechanically stabilized earth; Mountains; Performance measurement; Service life; Soil stabilization
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01930278
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Colorado Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 2024 7:52AM