Strutting our stuff in Northern California

February 16th, 2010

T&B Structural Systems was recently engaged on the South Fork Smith River Road improvement project in Del Norte County's Smith River National Recreational Area. Several modifications were made to our Wire Wall system to enhance this particular installation. Struts were used to secure the face panel during placement of the face rock. The struts allowed the 24" lift face to be filled completely before placing the next soil reinforcement lift. This also allowed the face area to be compacted easily. A reduced 2"x2" grid opening in the wire face accommodated the use of a smaller face rock, which was much easier to place and compact than the typical 4–6" material.

This scenic, serpentine forest highway winds its way along the South Fork Smith River. The wall construction was required to help widen the roadway at single-lane rockslide locations. No surprise, construction crews found themselves "between a rock and a hard place" working in rather extreme conditions on the mountainside. Luckily, T&B Wire Wall components ship, store and assemble easily within limited space — helping the crews make the most of working on a cliffside.

distant view of mountainside, completed wire wall

The total wall area is 56,927 s.f., with a maximum wall height of 40'. The owner of the project is the Central Federal Lands Highway Division. The general contractor is Tidewater Contractors, Inc., out of Brookings, Oregon.

T&B's service and technical advice is excellent. I was able to get in touch with T&B (Tom Taylor) for technical questions at anytime — even during non-business hours — to answer my questions.

—George Fitzhugh, Project Manager, Tidewater Contractors, Inc

Wire Walls are ideal for fast and economical installation using cost-saving wire components and select backfill materials. They easily accommodate curves, angles, or steps and the facing and soil reinforcing mats may be adapted to allow for the installation of culverts, bridge piles, or other site requirements. Wire Walls can be installed with exposed wire surface only or they may be designed to accept a variety of finishes, such as grass, vegetation, shotcrete and precast panels in a two-stage design.