Rock Bolting in Sensitive Environments: Preview of an Upcoming FHWA Federal Lands Guidance Manual

摘要

Rock bolts are routinely used throughout the United States to improve the stability of natural rock slopes and cut slopes in rock adjacent to roadways, including on low volume roads in sensitive environments such as Federal Lands Highway (FLH) projects. Several existing manuals address the design and installation of rock bolts. However, these manuals are generally geared toward high volume roads where public safety and cost are the primary project objectives. While FLH projects recognize the importance of safety and cost, the overall goals of the projects are unique because of the major concerns with aesthetics, construction impacts, and maintenance. In addition, the level of acceptable risk for low volume roads may vary from those for a high volume divided highway. To address these concerns, the Central Federal Lands Division of the FHWA has commissioned development of a rock bolting manual. Specifically, it will address project planning, design, construction, inspection, testing, and maintenance in a format that considers the unique FLH project goals. While the manual is being prepared specifically for use on projects administered by Federal Lands Management Agencies (ex. National Parks and Forests), we anticipate that it can be used by other agencies that own, build, and maintain low volume roads, such as state and local park agencies. The manual will be available in late 2014 or early 2015, and this presentation will provide an overview of the manual while highlighting methods of dealing with the unique challenges of rock slope stabilization in sensitive environments.