Reinforced Earth 50th Publication

Neskaupstaður Avalanche Barrier

The project involved the construction of avalanche defences at Neskaupstaður. The defences comprised a 14m high catching earth dam and 13 No. 10m high breaking earth mounds (splitters) in the run out zone of snow avalanches. The defences formed the first phase of avalanche protection works to the town of Neskaupstaður on the east coast of Iceland. Reinforced Earth Company (RECo) was initially contacted by the project consultant to assist in developing the design and specification. Both the catching earth dam and the splitters comprised a 76° steep face to the upstream side of the mounds. This steep face was formed using RECo’s wire mesh facing system, a galvanized steel facing utilising galvanized steel high adherence reinforcing strips. Graded rock fill, obtained from blasting operations at the job site, provided the structural fill to the Reinforced Earth structures. RECo was chosen to design and supply these defences because of speed of erection, robustness and proven ability to withstand significant impact loading.

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