EDITORIAL

ZAF / ED / 043: Eng - Rev. 03, Nov 2007

FLEXIBLE GABION WALL’S KEY ROLE ON R61

NTAFUFU, PORT ST JOHNS, E. CAPE
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Gravity retaining walls
Editorial published in:
Construction World, April 2004
IMIESA, April 2004

A recent slope stabilisation solution designed by

infrastructure engineers, HHO Africa, together with
technical input from Maccaferri/African Gabions, has
resulted in the establishment of a highly flexible
gabion wall installation forming part of the R61 - link
road from Port St Johns to the north.

Rikesh Maharaj, KZN regional manager of Durban-based

Maccaferri/African Gabions, says the 260m long and six-metre-
high gabion wall was constructed between the Ntafufu and
Mzimvubu rivers to stabilise the cut slope in the hillside above
the road in a geologically unstable area.

“The gabion wall is a key element for the preservation of the

road and for the safeguarding of traffic on the upgraded road
between Port St Johns to Port Edward and Kokstad. Gabion
walls have the flexibility to tolerate differential settlements
without cracking. Unlike rigid welded mesh, gabions will
Work in progress on the impressive 260m-long and 6m-high
distribute loads over larger surfaces,” Maharaj states. gabion wall on the upgraded R61 road from Port St Johns to the
north
Terence Bergman of HHO Africa says: “The flexibility of the
gabion wall was imperative. The fact that Maccaferri/African
Gabions’ wall could be used in such an area of poor
foundations and could blend in harmoniously with the
landscape were other important selection factors.”

HHO Africa’s design called for smaller gabion structures to

support fills on steep cross-falls and to protect culverts.

A section of the gabion structure on the R61 road

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