Overview
Locations
- Hwy 210 is closed from the eastern-edge of the Jay Cooke State Park Campground to Fond du Lac
Schedule
- Varies
Cost
- Still being determined
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Soil nailing slope stabilization
MnDOT has hired Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. to stabilize areas along Hwy 210 that are prone to mud slides. The process they are using is called soil nailing. Slopes west of the park and near the Minnesota Power Generating Station are being stabilized under an emergency contract.
A finished wall using soil nail technology.
What is soil nailing?
Soil nailing is a process in which 1.5-inch-diameter, 20-foot-long steel pipes or nails are launched at 220 miles per hour into the soil of roadway slopes.
What are the benefits of soil nailing?
- Soil nailing is ideal for particularly steep locations that are difficult to access.
- Soil nailing is a quick, cost-effective way to fix slope damage.
- Soil nailing stabilizes the ground and prevents future erosion/slope failures.
A backhoe is used to install soil nails.
How does it work?
- A backhoe is used to reach out and launch or drill nails into the slope.
- Once the nails are in place, they are secured with a chain link fence that lays flat on the ground.
- Then crews spray 6 to 8 inches of shotcrete (concrete sprayed through a hose) over the slope surface to keep the ground in place and prevent it from eroding.
Has MnDOT used this method before?
Yes. The process has been used effectively since 2007 and those areas show no signs of additional damage.
Left: Green-tipped soil nails and other concrete supplies lay ready to be installed. Center: A construction worker sprays concrete encasing the soil nails and chainlink fencing. Another construction worker, braced at ground-level on the steep slope, supports his co-worker as he sprays the high-pressure material. Right: It takes a big crew to keep the concrete flowing and move the heavy hose along the wall.