Item: Installation of Flexible Snow Net Structures Along I-90 Snoqualmie Pass Washington
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Title: Installation of Flexible Snow Net Structures Along I-90 Snoqualmie Pass Washington
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Chris Ingram [ HI-TECH Rockfall Construction, Forest Grove, OR, USA ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: HI-TECH Rockfall Construction is currently constructing the largest avalanche barrier project ever undertaken in the U.S. These nets range from 3 meters in height up to 4 meters in order to control avalanches along I-90 in Washington State. In all HI-TECH will install 1229 meters of snow nets. The project consists of 322 meters 4.0/3.5 nets, 278 meters of 3.5/3.2 nets and 651 meters of 3.0/3.2 nets. These nets are installed at 4 different locations along the highway corridor. The major requirement for the contract included that the flexible snow nets were designed following the WSL guidelines for flexible structures. The design team included Kane Geo-Tech, Maccaferri, HI-TECH Rockfall and Dr. Roberto Castalidini, consultant from Italy. The major challenges for construction of the flexible snow nets were the very rough and uneven terrain and the lack of access to where the nets were to be constructed and adverse drilling conditions. The snow nets required very high anchor loads due to the abnormal snow pressures and heavy snow density of 400 kg/m2 that we see at this location. With the use of specialized drill rigs and a helicopter HI-TECH's highly skilled employees were able to overcome the challenges and construct the flexible snow nets on budget and on time.
Object ID: ISSW14_paper_P3.41.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche, Transportation, Difficult Access, Slope Roughening, WSL Certified
Page Number(s): 1082-1087
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