When Soluform were approached about a Scour hole repair on a bridge at Aberdulais Tin Works, we...
When the client needed to repair significant river bank erosion and protect bridge abutments from continual scour, SoluForm provided the ideal solution.
What was the challenge?
Part of the product selection process was to ensure the product used would have no impact on the environment or the surrounding riverbank habitat.
A product was needed that could be installed both below and above the waterline to repair the riverbank and protect it from future scour, whilst not needing to dewater the river.
What was the solution?
SoluForm’s underwater 32N bagwork with its biodegradable liner was the ideal solution. The underwater bagwork was placed below the waterline in a stretcher bond pattern. It was pinned together with the purpose made U shaped, rebar pins that create a path to let water in to hydrate the concrete. This solution ensures no cement fines escape that may affect the ecology of the river.
As the river level is continually changing as a result of regular rainfall, a further 1m wall was added using the Soluform above water bagwork, which have a water soluble liner, to provide additional scour protection on both sides of the bridge and corresponding river banks.
What was the outcome for the client?
In all, the project was completed in just under 7 days, utilising 16 pallets of underwater bagwork and 12 pallets of above water bagwork, equating to 19.3m3. The major benefit was the contractor did not need to dewater the river to provide costly or heavy duty plant to put the product into an isolated rural location.
It allowed an experienced team to hand place the bagwork in a cost-effective, timely manner. The solution provided the client the confidence of a durable and robust, but environmentally-friendly structure which provided the assured longevity of the bridge and the surrounding embankment.
The material has been used extensively over the last 3 years in the highways, rail and water/flood sectors throughout the UK. It provides hard wearing and durable solutions for applications such as scour protection, void filling, underpinning, the formation of headwalls to culverts and bridges, or protection of riverbanks, walls, bridges and retaining walls.
Would you like to speak to SoluForm to see how we can help?
You can contact us on 01629 541066 or email us at sales@soluform.co.uk. Our friendly team will be more than happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.
