Woody debris barriers

VX torrent control barrier for retaining woody debris and rubble,

bridge Solldamm Untervaz GR / Switzerland

Photo documentation / march 2007

Woody debris barriers / photo documentation / march 2007

Woody debris barrier bridge Solldamm

Untervaz GR

Object: Bridge Solldamm Untervaz GR / Switzerland

Construction type: VX stream control structure
Height: 3.0 – 3.5 m
Length: 12 - 16 m
Retention volume: 200 m3
Safety measures: Geobrugg protection system with type 7/3/300
ring nets, spiral rope anchors type 22.5, with 3 m and 7
m anchorage lengths, 20 mm and 22 mm GEOBINEX
bearing ropes
Client: Department for Forests, Canton of Grison, Rhine Vally,
Schanfigg
Forestry Department, Municipality of Untervaz GR
Project: Civil Engineering Department Canton of Grison,
Hydraulic Engineering; Büro Joggi Felix, Building
Supervision
Dimensioning: Fatzer AG, Geobrugg Protection Systems
Execution: Building Contractor Ribbert AG Mels, Switzerland
Execution date: July 2004

As part of a forest road the bridge Solldamm gives access to various alpine
pastures on the boundaries of Untervaz. The culvert has an inside width of
1.5 x 1.5 m and is threatened with obstruction in violent storms. Because of
the karstic rocks, heavy rains can result in large amounts of water flowing
through the gully in a very short time, carrying woody debris with it. To pre-
vent a clogging of the culvert the decision was taken for a VX debris barrier.
The bearing rope anchorage was effected with spiral rope anchors in the rock.
The unconsolidated soil covering was in the left region ca. 3 m. Additional
expanded metal piping was built in here as antikink protection for the spiral
rope anchor.

View from the bridge upstream

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Drilling took one day to finish.

Installation of the nets with crane. Hand

installation would have been only slight-
ly slower because of the simple shackling
of the ring nets. A pipe for protection
against abrasion was installed in the cen-
tral region. The installation of the barrier
was completed in about six hours with
three workers.

Optimal protection against woody debris

and rubble using Geobrugg VX stream
control structure.

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 Rockfall barriers

Rockfall drapes

Slope stabilization systems

Debris flow barriers

Avalanche prevention structures

Open pit rockfall barriers

Special applications

Geobrugg protects people and infrastructures from the

forces of nature

It is the task of our engineers and partners to analyze the problem

together with you in detail and then, together with local consul-
tants, to present solutions. Painstaking planning is not the only
thing you can expect from us, however; since we have our own
production plants on four continents, we can offer not only short
delivery paths and times, but also optimal local customer service.
With a view towards a trouble-free execution, we deliver preassem-
bled and clearly identified system components right to the construc-
tion site. There we provide support, if desired, including technical
support – from installation right on up until acceptance of the struc-
ture.

Geobrugg AG
1.203.04.EN.0703

Geohazard Solutions
Aachstrasse 11 • CH-8590 Romanshorn • Switzerland
Phone +41 71 466 81 55 • Fax +41 71 466 81 50
www.geobrugg.com • info@geobrugg.com

A company of the BRUGG Group ISO 9001 certified