Temporary Excavation Slopes and Rockfall Mitigation
Elite Construction + Development
Prosser, Washington
Key Project Elements:
Temporary excavation slopes
Rockfall mitigation
Critical areas permitting
Expedited schedule
Cross Reiter staff responded to an expedited request from Elite Construction + Development, one of the greater Columbia Basin’s premier contractor/developers, to assist with the evaluation of a temporary excavation slope near Prosser, Washington.
Cross Reiter staff mobilized to the site and characterized exposed soils and bedrock in accordance with applicable regulations. We identified and assessed an existing rockfall hazard associated with fractured basalt bedrock and made recommendations for a variety of feasible rockfall mitigation strategies to keep the project moving forward. These included targeted scaling and trimming of the basalt slope, shotcrete treatments, and installation of an anchored wire mesh.
This project is an excellent example of Cross Reiter’s agility. We are able to respond quickly to our client’s issues and bring forward effective geotechnical solutions that keep projects on track.
Cross Reiter staff provided recommendations for feasible rockfall mitigation measures, including scaling, shotcrete treatment, and wire mesh protection.
Columbia River Basalt Group are flood basalts underlying much of the inland Pacific Northwest. Although typically stable at vertical inclinations, this project encountered heavily fractured basalt leading to rockfall activity.