Traffic
congestion in San Salvador, El Salvador, is a very serious problem.
This urban area required vertical separation of streets with a series
of five bridge and overpass projects to overcome the clogged on-grade
intersections.
The
San Salvador Public Works Office, along with the general contractor,
Impregilo Sp.A. of Italy, looked at a number of systems to solve the
problem. Their answer was segmental retaining wall (SRW) units.
SRWs
were chosen for their design freedom and flexibility, cost saving
and, above all, speed of construction. Since any construction would
temporarily exaggerate the existing congestion, solving the varying
site problems in as short a time frame as possible was necessary.
During construction, heavy rains from Hurricane Mitch did not stop
the installation process; therefore, traffic disruption was kept to
a minimum and the job was finished on time.
A total
of 3,300 m2 (35,500 square feet) of SRWs were supplied for the five
bridges and overpasses. The tallest wall is 5.4 m (17.7 feet) and
the reinforcement solutions varied from soil reinforcement in cut/fill
areas to anchors, where existing structures prohibited site excavation.
Olimpia
Ramirez, an architect with Impregilo, provided unique design appeal
to the walls by using a variety of color and geometric patterns. Each
bridge or overpass was treated individually with patterns reminiscent
of the local native figures of the Mayas and Pipiles civilizations.
One intersection has become known as "the snakes" intersection
because of the geometric design of a stretched out snake on all four
approach walls. In addition to Ramirez, Engineer Adrian Rodriguez
and Architect Jennifer de Souza from Materiales Saltex also provided
designs and wall patterns.
As projected,
the solution saved time as a result of the rapid installation process.
The graphics provide great aesthetic appeal and reflect the government's
appreciation for form and function.
Finally,
as an added benefit, the neighboring public appreciates the structures
as well. While graffiti has appeared on the smooth cast concrete of
the bridges, the textured SRWs with graphic patterns have remained
graffiti-free.
Landscaping
|
Roadway Applications | Bridge
Abutments | Design
and Construction
Building
Applications |
Interlocking Concrete Paving | Segmental
Retaining Walls | Articulated
Concrete Block Paving | Concrete
Masonry Units
