Temporary and permanent reinforced soil structures

Voets Gewapende Grondconstructies has already been involved by Boskalis in the preliminary phase. "Integrally including reinforced soil constructions in the design not only promotes the sustainability of a project, but ultimately also works out more economically attractive," says company manager Gino Jongmans.

Voets specializes in the detailed design of reinforced soil structures, as well as their supply and installation. "Boskalis is a well-known relationship and has relied on our expertise for many years," Jongmans outlines. "They often see us as a strategic partner and we are then brought in at an early stage. Even though the contribution for the N69 is relatively small, our constructions have become part of the integral design." Constant Brok, design manager at Voets for the N69, adds: "For structures 09 and 13, reinforced soil was applied as a definitive structure, partly as foundations and partly as walls. At six other locations, we built temporary reinforced soil structures that act as auxiliary structures."

Area-specific material

Building with reinforced soil is a considerably more sustainable and economical alternative to a solution with steel sheet pile walls or concrete structures, according to Jongmans. "In doing so, we use the 'work with work' aspect as much as possible. Soils released elsewhere from the project are often used as supplementary material to the reinforced soil, for example, to raise an abutment. That has also happened here at the N69. The beauty of our profession is that we never build structures on our own. There is always a great affinity with the main contractor, because they control the soil balance. Another advantage of reinforced soil structures is the high construction speed. We can build much faster than traditionally in steel or concrete." Brok: "In addition to the foundation construction for both artworks, we also realize the wing walls, the retaining walls next to the bridge, with reinforced soil, sand and geogrids. Instead of under a slope 1 to 1, we can build under 90 degrees with area soil that will later be finished with a thin 'facing' of concrete."

Complete solutions in reinforced soil

The temporary reinforced soil structures at the N69 are mainly intended to create space to realize the decks of the structures. "The abutments are founded quite low. Mass was needed to resist and support the future deck during construction," Brok explains. "We solved that with a reinforced soil structure that will later take its final form in another construction." Says Jongmans, "We offer complete solutions in reinforced soil, thinking integrally with you to arrive at the most efficient design. To supply the required ground reinforcement, we work with Huesker as our regular supplier. Besides being a reliable partner for us, it is a real world player in geotextiles. The N69 project is now in its completion phase for us. We look back on a beautiful project in which we worked pleasantly with the main contractor in a safe and healthy environment."