FILL TYPE RETAINING WALLS

1. FILL TYPE RETAINING WALLS • EI 10-031 • EB 10-041 • EB 10-042

2. Based on how they work: Externally Stabilized Internally Stabilized Soil particle at interface with back of structural facing Overview: Wall Categories

3. Based on how they are constructed • Cut Walls: Wall is constructed “top-down”. Overview: Wall Categories

4. Fill Walls: Wall is constructed “bottom-up”. Overview: Wall Categories

5. Highway Design Manual • Table 9-6 Classification of Retaining Wall Systems Overview: Wall Categories

6. Proprietary walls - Vendor designed systems protected by specific patents. • Proprietary systems can only be used on State projects as follows: • Chosen by competitive bid • No suitable alternative • Synchronization: One item only fits in a series of items, or it is part of a system • Provides a unique function • Experimental feature: Requires an approved Experimental Work Plan • Public Interest – needs project-by-project approval Background: Proprietary Wall Systems

7. These rules apply to any project with Federal money (incl. Pass-Thru projects & federally funded maintenance projects). • Proprietary items are submitted at PS&E (with supporting documentation and justification to FHWA) • A bid proposal with an item not on the AL could be declared “nonresponsive” • Approved List’s with less than 3 systems require justification. Background:Proprietary Wall Systems

8. Four Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Wall Categories: • Mechanically Stabilized Earth System • Mechanically Stabilized Segmental Block Retaining Wall System • Precast Modular Wall System • Segmental Block Retaining Wall System • Approved List Background: Proprietary Wall Systems

9. FILL WALLS

10. Section 554 • Section 632 • SBRWS Special • Materials • Bureau Testing • Issue • Section 554 Fill Type Retaining Walls Merge Existing Specifications

11. Wet-Cast Products • Manufactured & shipped to job site in a matter of days. • Based on performance criteria thru NYSDOT administered QC/QA program. • Historical data of test results. • Sampling and testing audit operations. • Dry-Cast Products • Manufactured in lots. • Quarantined for sampling and freeze-thaw testing. • Delayed from shipping until acceptable test results. • Fairness in Testing Procedures Side Issue: Testing Blocks Materials Procedure MP 09-03: Concrete Masonry Unit QA/QC Procedures

12. Wall System • Face units are the structural support. • Internally Stabilized Wall System • Reinforcement added to a “wall system” to increase achievable wall heights. • Internally Stabilized Earth System • Reinforcement is the structural support. • Face panels alone could not be a “wall system”. Overview: Definitions of Terms

13. Fill Type Retaining Walls • Prefabricated Wall System • Open Top Face • Solid Face • Mechanically Stabilized Wall System • “Reinforced Prefabricated Wall Systems” • Mechanically Stabilized Earth System Overview: Definitions of Terms

14. Construction • Standard Sheets • M554-1 (554.01 Sheet 1 of 5) Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Walls (General Notes) • M554-2 (554.01 Sheet 2 of 5) Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Walls (General Details) • M554-3 (554.01 Sheet 3 of 5) Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Walls (Typical Sections for MSES) • M554-4 (554.01 Sheet 4 of 5) Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Walls (Typical Sections for MSWS) • M554-5 (554.01 Sheet 5 of 5) Proprietary Fill Type Retaining Walls (Typical Sections for PWS) • M554-6 (554.02 Sheet 1 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Walls-General Notes and Details) • M554-7 (554.02 Sheet 2 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Walls-Typical Sections) • M554-8 (554.02 Sheet 3 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Slopes-General Notes and Details) • M554-9 (554.02 Sheet 4 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Slopes-Typical Sections) • M554-10 (554.02 Sheet 5 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Facing Details) • M554-11 (554.02 Sheet 6 of 6) Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil Systems (Facing Details) • Design • HDM Revision No. 60 (Chapter 9) • Section 9.4 Retaining Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes • EB 10-041 • EB 10-042 New Issuances

15. Design • GRSS Specification • Item 554.30XX Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil System Wall • Item 554.31 Geosynthetically Reinforced Soil System Slope • Fill Type Retaining Wall Specification • Item 554.40 Fill Type Retaining Wall (0-1 m) • Item 554.41 Fill Type Retaining Wall (Greater than 1 m – 1.8 m) • Item 554.42 Fill Type Retaining Wall (Greater than 1.8 m – 2.7 m) • Item 554.43 Fill Type Retaining Wall (Greater than 2.7 m – 3.7 m) • Item 554.44 Fill Type Retaining Wall (Greater than 3.7 m – 4.6 m) • Item 554.45 Fill Type Retaining Wall (Greater than 4.6 m) • Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Specification • Item 554.5001 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Textured Surface (Hand Tooled, Raked, etc.), No Color • Item 554.5002 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Textured Surface (Hand Tooled, Raked, etc.), Integral Color • Item 554.5101 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Exposed Aggregate Finish, No Color • Item 554.5102 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Exposed Aggregate Finish, Integral Color • Item 554.5201 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Architectural Pattern, No Color • Item 554.5202 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Architectural Pattern, Integral Color • Item 554.53 Fill Type Retaining Wall Aesthetic Treatment – Other; As shown in the Contract Documents • EI 10-031 New Issuances

16. Default PWS • (open top face units): • Plain, smooth concrete finish • Natural concrete (gray) color • Default PWS • (solid face units): • Split face finish • Natural concrete (gray) color • Default MSES: • Plain, smooth concrete finish • Natural concrete (gray) color Aesthetics

17. Precast Panels or PWS (Open Top Face Units) PWS (Solid Face Units) Textured Surface Exposed Aggregate Finish Aesthetics Architectural Pattern

18. Master List Design Assumptions Drycast Concrete Wall Units Hyperlink Hyperlink Prefabricated Wall Systems & Mechanically Stabilized Wall Systems Mechanically Stabilized Earth Systems Hyperlink Hyperlink Precast Concrete Panel Units Precast Concrete Wall Units Expanded Approved List

19. 20 wall systems competitively bid against each other • Don’t Eliminate – Enumerate! Use Special Notes: EX. Notes for Use with Fill Type Retaining Walls in Underwater Applications: 1. The Design High Water at elevation ___ is above the bottom of wall elevation. 2. If metallic elements are used, provide additional corrosive protection to account for fluctuating water conditions throughout a 75-year design life. 3. If soil reinforcing elements are used, provide certification by a NYS PE that the design accounts for the reduced resisting soil pressures under buoyant conditions. 4. For any wall type, provide certification by a NYS PE that the wall will be stable under buoyant conditions. 5. If ice contact is expected, ensure the durability of the wall to withstand such forces. 6. Provide adequate prevention of the migration of soil through wall joints. 7. Provide weep holes with inverts no more than 4” above OHW elevation and 1 ft thickness of free-draining material between OHW and DHW elevations for the prevention of hydrostatic pressure build up behind the wall due to drawdown conditions. Expanded Approved List

20. Wall System Reinforced Height Range Abutment Applications Hyperlinks Example Approved List: Master List (MSES Portion) Hyperlinks

21. Wall System Reinforced Height Range Abutment Applications Hyperlinks Hyperlinks Example Approved List: Master List (PWS & MSWS Portion)

22. Designer Determines Need for Fill Wall GEB Provides Design Details Yes GRSS Wall? Design Elements and Specifications incorporated into Contract Documents Need for Additional Aesthetic Treatment? No No Lines, Grades, Elevations, and Special Notes Shown in Contract Documents. • Vividly Describe Aesthetic Treatments • Industry-Standard Descriptions (Color, Texture, Pattern) • Special Notes • Special Details Yes Design Procedure

23. Plans Depict Fill Wall Plans Depict GRSS Wall Contractor Chooses Wall System from Approved List Contractor Submits Design and Details of Proprietary System Contractor Submits Geosynthetic Certifications Submittal Approval No Change in Process Construction Process Wall Construction

24. Merging the specifications does several things: • Conformance with Competitive Bidding, provided under 23 CFR 635.411(a)(1) by identifying as many acceptable products as possible. • Separates the cost of the wall function from the cost of the wall aesthetics. • Eliminates bias in selection of wall type. • Eliminates the State losing potential cost savings to VE proposals. • Eliminates the problem of the designer sometimes specifying proprietary wall systems, and then needing a spec and a “back-justification”. • Where special requirements warrant, create and justify a special spec. Conclusion

25. No change in the basic role of the RGE. • In lieu of selecting a single wall type, describe the conditions, requirements and limitations of the site on the plans. • More onus on the RLA. • Need to vividly describe the desired aesthetic treatment on the plans using generic terms. • Project Managers need to broaden their presentations of wall types • Need to become familiar with the available categories (textured surface, exposed aggregate finish, architectural pattern) for presentations to communities. While negotiating a “look”, the PM should avoid promising the use of a specific type of wall. Conclusion