A retaining wall system from Adbri Masonry was specified for the rebuild
project involving the rain-damaged Wilson’s Creek Road in rural Northern New
South. The damage had reduced the road to a single lane for both directions,
leading to the cessation of school bus and refuse collection services as the
road could no longer support these vehicles.
Adbri Masonry’s Landmark walling system was selected for the major
reconstruction of the road and the installation of link wall units was awarded
to Adbri Masonry’s Contracting Services Division.
The deep slip beneath the road embankment was stabilised using 330
vertical and raked micropiles installed to a depth of twelve metres in an A
Frame arrangement with a reinforced concrete capping beam connecting the pile heads.
The capping beam provided the foundation for the retaining wall to support the
road reconstruction.
A proven solution for large scale commercial and industrial retaining
wall projects, the Landmark walling system can be built to great heights with
reinforcement. A lockbar unit provides a positive connection between the
geogrid reinforcement and the landmark units.
Adbri Masonry faced several challenges during the execution of the
project with Byron Shire Council requiring a system and installation process that
could work within the tightly restricted space. Since there was no space on
site to store materials, Adbri Masonry had to employ a just-in-time delivery
approach, adding to pressure on both builders and suppliers.
One particular challenge involved a 370m² wall that needed to be
retained but had very restricted access. A one-metre wide dirt road ran in
front of the wall to only 85 per cent of the wall’s length with the wall
sloping down ten metres to the creek below. The winding road did not leave any room
to turn around making access for B-double trucks and tippers carrying product
very difficult. The closest main road was 10 kilometres from this remote site
with the nearest production facility capable of producing the required Landmark
blocks 650 kilometres away, presenting a logistical challenge.
Mark Wilson, Adbri Masonry’s Contracting
Services Manager explained that they decided to run B-double trucks from the
production facility to a site outside the nearest town, and use a truck to deliver
on trailer to site. The commitment of Adbri Masonry’s factory to produce the
product and the reliability of their drivers ensured the units were delivered
to site on time, helping the installation team complete the works promptly and
professionally.
