Preventing roadway washouts

摘要

When a road turns into a raging river, it becomes both dangerous and damaging. This is exactly what happened in July 2013, when the city of Lebanon, N.H., was swamped with more than 4 in. of rain within 48 hours-2 in. fell in just 45 minutes. The deluge caused flash flooding which left residents stranded and cost $6.5 million in infrastructure damage. The biggest chunk-$3.4 million-was slated to repair Slayton Hill Road, which was washed out during the storm. According to city officials, washouts on this road had been an ongoing problem. Stantec Engineering (formerly Fay, Spofford & Thorndike) was asked by the city to assist with the design of emergency repairs and tasked with coming up with a more resilient solution.