TxDOT Rains County — Texas

A US highway embankment / bridge foot suffered from scour and erosion. A maintenance project was initially designed to place gabion and riprap to stabilize the embankment and address the future exposure. However, due to the soil characteristics and seepage, a coffer dam initially deployed was not effective in holding back the water and failed to allow the placement of the intended gabions. After a project review with the client, it was decided to utilize the Texas Tuff Rock Bags (2 Ton) as a substitution. A production process was set up in the contractor's yard. Texas Tuff Rock Bags were filled and transported to the site by flatbed truck. Texas Tuff Rock Bags were placed in the water at the foot of the embankment and then on the embankment in a stair-step fashion. By doing this, the Rock Bags are able to protect from scour and erosion, providing a stable structure and support for the bridge. After the completion, the sheet piles were removed and the project was completed, leaving the embankment and bridge protected as desired. The contractor was very pleased with the result and the ease / effectiveness of using the rock bags. The substitution of the Texas Tuff Rock Bags for riprap and gabions in this project offered the following benefits: • Allowed the project to overcome the obstacles of the original design. • The placement of Texas Tuff Rock Bags was accomplished with no ground preparation on the embankment and in the water. • The simple pick and place process to deploy the rock bags using the single point of control "ring" was safe, simple, quick and effective to complete the project. • The contractor considers this a much preferred solution to the original design and the use of gabion.

From the field