Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
In redesigning the busiest shopping street in the center of Ede, the municipality is restoring the streetscape by modifying facades and installing eleven mature trees, among other things. The trees will come in a special plastic bunker with a water management system.
In two weeks around early March 2019, workers from contractor Gebra will dig eleven pits in the Grotestraat, Ede's busiest shopping street. These pits will accommodate mature trees whose roots will be protected by a tree bunker, a pressure relieving construction by Joosten Kunststoffen. Relatively light plastic prefabricated components, geotextile and foil ensure that the tree's growing place is separated from the road's sewer and cunet construction.
Healthy, airy soil
In close cooperation with the municipality of Ede and Quercus Boomexperts and substrate supplier BvB, among others, the growing site for eleven elms in the street was designed. The tree forms a fairly narrow crown, making it ideal for a downtown area. Pascal Otten of Joosten Kunststoffen: "In addition to the important requirements that the roots have sufficient space and the growth sites contribute to the water management in the street, our system also prevents compaction of the soil by traffic load. Benefits: healthy, airy soil to root in and no damage to streetwork from root pressure. In addition, the tree bunker is a lightweight, modular system that is quick to assemble."
The tree bunker requires no drastic changes to the network of pipes and cables in the busy shopping street. Pascal: "Some pipes are rerouted, others can just go right through the bunker. Because the nutrient-rich substrate in the bunker is homogeneous, roots will not adhere around the pipes."
A water reservoir constructed from AquaMulti Boxes at the bottom of the bunker helps bridge dry periods.
Growth sites linked to water management system
The growing sites are equipped with a gully for stormwater runoff, linked to the GreenBlue Urban RootSpace water management system. A water reservoir constructed from AquaMulti Boxes at the bottom of the bunker helps bridge dry periods. Excess rainwater infiltrates into the subsurface via an overflow.
Like many other municipalities, Ede chooses to place somewhat older trees whose crowns contribute directly to a better environment and a beautiful streetscape. Pascal: "Our GBU RootSpace Tree Tunnel system offers a sustainable, circular solution for this. Even after many years of use, the plastics can be ground up again for reuse in equally high-quality new products."
