Switzerland
Switzerland

myGeobrugg

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

Engineering

Nivalp SA / Geobrugg AG

Contractor

Sébastien Chéseaux Paravalanches SA

Protected object

Road

Corrosion protection

Galvanized, GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING

Your local contact

René Müller
   

René Müller

Country Manager Kantone AG BE BL BS FR GE JU NE SO VD VS

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG,Industriestrasse 21,5200 Brugg / Switzerland Country Manager Kantone AG BE BL BS FR GE JU NE SO VD VS

E-Mail

Olivia Sartorius
   

Olivia Sartorius

Country Manager Ost- und Zentralschweiz, Liechtenstein

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG,Trucks via road 14 or 13 only!, Aachstrasse 11,8590 Romanshorn / Switzerland Country Manager Ost- und Zentralschweiz, Liechtenstein

E-Mail

Alexander Bittendorfer
   

Alexander Bittendorfer

Project Manager Inspection Services

Natural Hazards
Geobrugg AG,Trucks via road 14 or 13 only!, Aachstrasse 11,8590 Romanshorn / Switzerland Project Manager Inspection Services

E-Mail

Isacco Toffoletto
   

Isacco Toffoletto

Ticino Country Manager

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG Ticino,Stabile Cometal, via Pizzante 7,6595 Riazzino / Switzerland Ticino Country Manager

E-Mail