Landslide Remediation
Launched Soil Nail arrays can stop movement in shallow landslides—without excavation, drill cuttings or fluids, or significant site disturbance—and require only one lane of traffic closure during working hours. That translates to decreased environmental impact, a much reduced carbon footprint, and significant project time and cost savings compared with more traditional repair techniques.
Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. (SNLI) typically provides design-build-warranty landslide repairs. That means that SNLI engineers or technicians will provide a no-cost no-obligation visit to any landslide. After surveying the site and gathering data, a design and guaranteed fixed-cost proposal will be submitted to the client. In emergency situations, we routinely have crews installing nails three days or fewer after a failure and often have the road open to traffic within the week. After construction, a warranty statement is issued that covers not just materials and installation, but the stability of the repaired section. With over 1000 landslides repaired to date, no other company has the experience, tools, rapid response time, or guarantee of Soil Nail Launcher, Inc.
Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. engineers use the most cutting edge limit equilibrium and finite element analysis programs to evaluate slope stability. The models are powerful tools, but only when coupled with proper input data and the experience and intuition to understand the results. At any given time our team is involved in several research projects sponsored by the company or by public entities. That translates into the newest methods and technologies going from concept to verification to implementation with no delays and with significant cost and time savings to our clients.
Henry County, Ohio, was experiencing multiple landslides along County Road Z that were slipping into the Maumee River. The shoulder was compromised and the edge of the pavement was in danger of failure during heavy rain events. Typically, a road in this rural area could have been moved over, however, an adjacent cemetery meant that option was not feasible.
Sales Consultant Perry Kairis was able to meet with Henry County the same day the county called Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. about the problem. Henry County had repaired a smaller section of this roadway years before with a soldier pile wall, but found that option prohibitively expensive. SNLI employed Launched SuperNails® to permanently stabilize the slides which protected the road adjacent to the cemetery. This allowed the client to maintain the alignment of the roadway along the cemetery. The County then had the option to move the road away from the river beyond this constraint.
The Launcher installed one SuperNail® (ballistically) about every four minutes, which significantly reduced the construction time over any other option being considered. No permits were necessary since all work was accomplished from above. A man-lift was used to apply the shotcrete surface treatment. The client was very satisfied with the project and introduced SNLI to both the City of Napoleon and the Henry County Parks Commission, which resulted in additional projects for each of these new clients within Henry County.
Contact:
Patrick McColley, Henry County, Highway Engineer
(419) 592-2976
Perry Kairis, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc., Consultant
perry@soilnaillauncher.com
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The Soil Nail Launcher installing SuperNails® to stabilize the slope |
SNLI used a man-lift to apply shotcrete from above |
The completed project, with natural vegetation and new guardrail |
A road fill slope failure occurred along a county road that provides access to ranches, National Forest lands, and a nearby intercontinental ballistic missile site. That the excess road fill failed into the adjacent wetlands complicated the matter. A rapid, low-impact slope repair, with a high factor of safety was required to support the heavy missile transporter traffic and protect the wetlands below. The slide repair was designed and funded through the Western Direct Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration for the Malmstrom Air Force Base and Fergus County, Montana.
The solution was Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. SNLI rapidly and economically installed more than 200 Launched Soil Nails from above, without impacting the wetlands below. SNLI then shotcreted the slope and stained the shotcrete to blend with the natural geology.
Contact:
John Steward, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc., Consultant
john@soilnaillauncher.com
Maymead Construction, under contract to North Carolina Department of Transportation, needed a subcontractor to stabilize a cut-back hillside in an area they had dished out for a turnout. And to keep the project on schedule, they needed a subcontractor quickly. Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. was able to provide them with the rapid response and speedy installation they needed. Moreover, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. provided a high-strength solution with a five-year warranty for the stabilization of this steep, 1:1 slope. SNLI’s patented SuperNails®, used in combination with TECCO® mesh, made such a solution possible.
Contact:
Keith Bender, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc., Consultant
keith@soilnaillauncher.com
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SNLI responded quickly to stabilize this 1:1 slope embanking a turnout |
SNLI’s patented SuperNails® and TECCO® mesh provided a high-strength solution |
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Thursday: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet contacts Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. Weak, failing backfill is jeopardizing new road construction on Route 714. Friday: SNLI evaluates the site and designs a solution. Saturday: SNLI uses its patented Launched Soil Nails to stabilize the backfill. Monday: Road construction resumes.
Not only was SNLI able to provide rapid response and quick installation for an emergency fix, the Launched Soil Nail solution was less expensive than a traditional repair.
Contact:
Keith Bender, Soil Nail Launcher, Inc., Consultant
keith@soilnaillauncher.com
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SNLI responded quickly to stabilize this 1:1 slope embanking a turnout |
Launched Soil Nails provided a quick, reliable solution |
KYTC contacted SNLI on Thursday; repairs were made on Saturday |
