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 Rock
coring was scheduled to begin, because of the widening of
U.S. 64 adjacent the Oconee River between Ducktown and
Cleveland, TN. U.S. 64, bordered by a river and a
sheer rock face, sees substantial truck and recreation
traffic. The Tennessee Department of Transportation determined that
falling rock could pose a real safety problem for motorists
on that stretch of road.
Parsons Brinkerhoff, the
design engineer, requested that United Consulting Senior
Geologist, Hayne Palmer, conduct a specialized rock fall
analysis.
Computer modeling and analysis was performed
on eight different 500-1000 foot sections of the road to
determine the rockfall potential. Questions were asked such
as: “If in 1 year, 10 rocks of a particular mass fell, what
percentage of them would reach the road base?”
If that percentage were deemed too high, barriers
would have to be designed.
Geological
mapping and calculations based on structural
geology, rock size, slope angle, shoulder width, and line of site were performed. Calculations revealed that
barriers were needed along several sections, therefore United Consulting
suggested recommendations for
different designs of rock fall barriers for presentation to
the client.
Our extensive geological experience
- and our
willingness to conduct exhaustive studies in order to get
actionable results - produced the data that enabled the design of safety measures that
will certainly prevent rock fall accidents along U.S. 64.
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