One of the biggest drivers of slope failures is uncontrolled water, blocked paths, saturated soils and weakened embankments. At one of these typical emergency landslips at Colhayne, Axminster Suttle Projects were appointed to expedite a permanent and rapid geotechnical and drainage-led stabilisation solution that would protect the operational railway and deliver a permanent reinstatement of the embankment.
Suttle Projects immediately put in place track and embankment monitoring system and developed an efficient and effective solution to permanently stabilise the slope requiring geotechnical, drainage and structure assets work.
Site ecological and topographical surveys and hydrological catchment analysis took just one week to complete, and the final project scope was agreed only 3 days ahead of the available 52-hour possession. Working closely with the designer, we proposed materials and methodologies using gabion baskets and mechanical ground anchors and our solution enabled us to give absolute assurance we could meet the possession deadline.
This reactive project faced several challenges. The worksite was deemed to be in an area defined as having moderate ecological value deeming it suitable for the habitat of hazel dormice. It was therefore essential to prevent any unnecessary intrusions to this environment, and this severely limited the temporary working areas available to us away from the live operational railway. Access and egress from the worksite was further hampered with the need to pass over a bridge with only a 3-tonne maximum capacity.
Water management sits at the heart of embankment resilience, and our project management approach ensures every factor and risk is carefully considered and simplified through meticulous up-front attention to detail, buildable designs, and clear communications throughout planning, execution, and handover.
The Colhayne embankment response is just one example of our how our geotechnical expertise, fast analysis, practical design, and integrated delivery can turn a developing and high-risk failure into a controlled, successful intervention.
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