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Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

Rockfall canopy for 2000 kJ with self cleaning effect, protecting Tunnel des Pontis portal area

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

Overview of the situation before installation - visible slope with rockfalls up to 2000 kJ of dynamic energy, endangering cantonal road below

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

Designing this unique rockfall canopy, Geobrugg specialists used also simulation software FARO, allowing the structure not only to be 100 percent safe but also have certain self cleaning effect

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

Portal area before canopy installation

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

Rockfall canopy installation required temporary road closure and involved rope access works. Total installation time of two months is short compared to other solutions like concrete gallery

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

The working gallery shows the rockfall threat, not only from big boulders but also from huge amounts of smaller rocks

Rockfall Protection - Tunnel des Pontis 2010

The installed canopy protects the road.

 

Systems

 

System length

- 61 m

 

Year of installation

2010

Initial situation

The entrance of the historic Tunnel des Pontis was endangered by rockfalls.

Description

The flexible rockfall canopy – at present the world’s strongest, with an energy absorption capacity of 2000 kJ – was installed at an approximately 60 m long rockface at the Tunnel des Pontis. The supporting structure calculations including special load cases such as boundary field hits, suspension rope hits and snow load were fully simulated on a computer using the FARO software. A total netting coverage of 1200 m² was installed. Lengthening the existing tunnel would have cost eight times more than Geobrugg’s solution.

Customer

Association intercommunale d’Anniviers

Contractor

Sébastien Chéseaux Paravalanches SA

Protected object

Road

Corrosion protection

Galvanized, GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING

Engineering

Nivalp SA / Geobrugg AG

Your local contact

Kevin H. Coyle
 

Kevin H. Coyle

Regional Manager Northeast

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

E-Mail

Saleh Feidi
 

Saleh Feidi

Regional Manager California

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

E-Mail

John Kalejta
 

John Kalejta

Regional Manager Central US

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,3215 67th Avenue Pl,Greeley CO 80634 / United States Regional Manager Central US

E-Mail

Bob Lyne
 

Bob Lyne

Regional Manager Southeast

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

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

Sales Director

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

E-Mail