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Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 shallow landslide barrier in December 2023

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 SL-150 at completion November 2017

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 looking upslope after March 2023 landslide

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 from above: Note no impact on road and large 10 m³ boulder

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 Looking South after 2023 landslide

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 Looking North after 2023 landslide

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

Looking North - Screenshots from scaling video showing 1 m³ rock impacting filled barrier

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SL-150 barrier after clearing and maintenance

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Kaikōura SR11 2023

SR11 Looking North SH1 – 2023 post clearing

 

Systems

 

Year of installation

2023

Initial situation

The 2016 Kaikōura M7.8 Earthquake caused widespread damage to the road and rail corridor some 20km North and South of the Kaikōura town ship. Over 40 major slips inundated the road and rail with over 750,000 m³ of material from source zones up to 500 m above sea level. The highly fractured Greywacke meant future landslides were expected, creating a requirement to install shallow landslide barriers in several SH1 and Rail locations. To date (2023), six SL150 barriers have been installed along the corridor. The SL150 barrier at the SR11 site required steeper upslope anchors to avoid interaction with the rail tunnel and also a rockface connection at Northern end. The barrier is 3.5 m high and 48 m long (6 x 8 m fields).

In March 2023, heavy rainfall triggered a large 600 m³ landslide at the SR11 site. Since the SL150 barrier installation (2017), only smaller 300 – 400 mm rocks had released and impacted the system. The landslide was comprised of a mixture of soil, gravels, vegetation and large blocks. The largest block was › 10 m³ and came to rest against the fourth post (South-North). The barrier was filled to approximately 0.5 m from the top in the centre two fields and had 1.25 - 1.5 m elongation, just touching the roadside barrier. Overall, the barrier performed exceptionally well.

Description

The initial response was to spread some of the debris behind the barrier to create extra catchment capacity and prevent overtopping in the event of the head scarp regressing further. Rock Control were then mobilised to clear and reinstate the barrier, which took five shifts.

First, a top-down scaling campaign was conducted, realising further blocks into the filled barrier. The largest block was approximately 1 m³, which was successfully stopped by the barrier. An excavator from roadside then removed 600 m³ of debris, with a rock breaker required for the largest block prior to removal. Rock Control then carried out maintenance on the barrier, which required one post, two upslope brake rings and two mesh panels. The SL150 barrier is now back and ready for action.

Engineering

North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Rebuild (NCTIR) Alliance

Contractor

SRG Install - Rock Control Maintenance

Protected object

Road

Corrosion protection

GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING

Your local contact

Kevin Coyle
 

Kevin Coyle

Regional Manager Northeast

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,3 Beaudet Terr,CT 06237 Columbia / United States Regional Manager Northeast

E-Mail

Saleh Feidi
 

Saleh Feidi

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,8921 Emperor Ave.,91775 San Gabriel, California / United States

E-Mail

John Kalejta
 

John Kalejta

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,KS 67226 Wichita / United States

E-Mail

Bob Lyne
 

Bob Lyne

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,8004 Windspray Drive,NC 27358 Summerfield / United States

E-Mail

Pierce Runnels, Civil Engineer
   

Pierce Runnels

General Manager Geobrugg North America

Natural Hazards
Geobrugg North America, LLC,22 Centro Algodones , Civil Engineer General Manager Geobrugg North America

E-Mail

Tim Shevlin
 

Tim Shevlin

Natural Hazards
Geobrugg North America, LLC,OR 97302 Salem / United States

E-Mail