The Metropolitan Transit Development Board extended its trolley line in the vicinity of San Diego State in Central San Diego. In doing so, the Grantville section was placed in a side hill cut, which required a permanent retaining wall.

The Challenge
The proposed wall was situated in a very tight right of way. Because of the steep initial slope of the site (1.5/1), it was virtually impossible to create access roads at the first and second soil nail levels.

The Solution
A total of five walls were created totaling four-thousand lineal feet. Some walls were up to 45’ high. Up to nine rows of soil nails were required. Soil nails were installed utilizing tight access equipment able to reach 15’ above itself to install the first few rows of soil nails. The permanent soil nails were faced with a temporary shotcrete facia and then a permanent facia of sculpted and stained shotcrete concrete was installed.

The work was performed as a subcontract for Modern Continental Construction.

Featured Expertise:

Shoring/Soil Nailing