Case Study: Island Emergency

Island Emergency! Rockslide Isolates Community--ARES to the Rescue ARES Full-Height Panel System Speeds Reopening of Critical Highway After Rockslide

There are worse places to be marooned than the surfers' paradise of Waimea Bay on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. But instead of wiggling his toes in the sand, Joe Bailey, Retaining Wall Systems Manager for Tensar Earth Technologies, was feeling the stress of working round-the-clock to help the local construction team install 14,000 square feet of the ARES Retaining Wall System so a vital highway could be reopened in record time.

Two months earlier on March 6, 2000, 20 cubic yards of rock split off a cliff and slammed into the blacktop of the Kamehameha highway, cutting off access to homes, businesses, and tourist destinations on Waimea Bay's North Shore. Miraculously, no one was hurt. But before residents could celebrate their good fortune, a state geologist delivered bad news: The cliff was dangerous, and the highway had to be closed.

New Roadway the Only Answer

Closing the highway forced 12,000 commuters to circle the island to reach Honolulu and other destinations. As short trips turned into multi-hour expeditions, tempers and business profits began to suffer. By March 10 Governor Ben Cayetano had declared a state of emergency. Opening the road became a top priority.

Further examination of the area and the discovery of ancient burial caves soon ruled out cutting back the cliff face. Realigning the highway proved to be the quickest and most affordable option.

The DOT specs called for moving the centerline out 25 feet and creating 1400 feet of new roadway with two 11-foot-wide lanes and a grassy rock catchment area next to the cliff. A special 12-foot rock protection fence would safeguard vehicles while the road's bayside would be retained by 850 linear feet of ARES Retaining Wall System.

Get it Done--Fast!

The state awarded the $4 million contract to Goodfellow Brothers, Inc., on April 10 with targeted completion within 60 days.

"It normally takes eight months or more to do this type of job," says Tom Hoen, Goodfellow Brothers Chief Engineer. "We couldn't make it if there were any weak links in our team."

Besides Goodfellow and Tensar Earth Technologies, that team included Healy-Tibbitts Builders (the installation subcontractor), Earth Tech Corporation (consulting engineer), and Rocky Mountain Prestress (precasting and fabrication).

To expedite the schedule, Tensar Earth Technologies air expressed its non-metallic reinforcing geogrid to Oahu. The island's acidic soil ruled out steel strapping. "Geogrid was the preferred material for these corrosive conditions," says Ardalon Nikou, Earth Tech Senior Project Manager.