CASE HISTORY Rev: 00, Issue Date 3.11.09 GABION WALLS AT AHMEDABAD VADODARA EXPRESSWAY GUJARAT,INDIA ENVIRONMENTAL/ HYDRAULIC & EROSION CONTROL/ SLOPE PROTECTION/ Product: Gabions, Mattress, Geotextile Problem

The Golden Quadrilateral Project was the largest Expressway Project launched by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Va- jpayee. It was managed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry Of Road, Transport and Highways (MORTH). The Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway (called as National Expressway 1-NE1) is India’s first Expressway.

The total stretch was 93Km out of which 43 to 45 km involved filling work .The work was executed in two stages, Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Phase 1 was from Ahmedabad to Nadiad (Km 0 to Km 43.4) and the Phase2 was from Nadiad to Vadodara (Km 43.4 to Km 93.3). The total Project consisted of 9 numbers of Minor Bridges, 100 numbers of culverts, 20 numbers of Canal Crossings, Irrigation Pipelines and provision of other logistics for the Express-way. During the construc- tion of this Express-way, Maccaferri was approached for the protec- tion of slopes , abutments, wing walls, and median walls of culverts, spill cone protection works etc. .

Since the soil in the site is of expansive nature, the Structures built above it will experience high shrinkage and swelling characteristics.

The existing soil was black cotton soil. Therefore, the structure above it had susceptiblity for settlement. Because of their high clay con- tent, black soils develop wide cracks during the dry season, but their iron-rich granular structure makes them resistant to wind and water erosion. They are poor in organic content yet highly moisture- retentive, thus responding well to irrigation.

Solution

Maccaferri offered Gabions for the Wing walls and culverts since that Photo 1: During construction was the most preferred solution because of its flexibility and free drain- ing nature.

Gabions were used as toe wall in abutment for soil retention .It was also used as wing walls in culvert. The Maccaferri solution was adopted for the following advantages.

1) Speed of construction 2) Cost-Effectiveness 3) Enviromental Friendliness: In this project, Gabions were preferred for its aesthetics appeal because it helped to establish vegetation along the slopes.

Client name: NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA Main contractor name: LGE & C-NCC(JV) Consultant: CES, HALCROW TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE (UK) Product used: GABIONS, MATTRESS, GEOTEXTILE Construction info Construction start: APRIL 2003 Photo 2: During construction Construction end: SEPT 2004 Photo 3: Gabions filled with rock and geotextile underneath Photo 4: Typical cross section of Gabion Wall

Photo 5&6: Completed gabion wall for culvet protection Photo 7&8: Completed structure for abutment protection

Present Status of the Project Both Phases of the Project is completed . Even though there was severe destruction in this expressway during the flood in 2005, structure did not show any signs of destruction. Vegetation has grown along the structures and proven that well inte- gration with nature has occurred .

Project section

Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 1003,10th Floor,Casablanca,Plot No.45,Sector-11,CBD Belapur,Navi Mumbai-400614 Tel. 91-22– 27580475/27565451/ 27565906/27580931/ 27580932 - Fax (022) 27580488 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] - Web site: www.maccaferri-india.com