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The June 2008 issue of FHWA's Focus newsletter features articles on the following topics: "Extending the Life of Roads and Bridges in Louisiana," "FHWA Offers Soil Nail Showcase;' "Meet The Little Book of Quieter Pavements" and "FHWA Regional Conferences Showcase Asset Management Around the Country.

ART: PHOTO; MAP CUTLINE: (PHOTO) Colantonio General Contractors is building a dormitory at Fitchburg State College, including a soil nail retaining wall.

The newdivision will provide clients with drilling and grouting treatment of shallow mine workings, mineral investigations, rotary site investigations, drilling for ground source heat pumps, and installation of soil nails and rock anchors.

The soil nails are installed from the top downwards and the Permacrib facing, from the bottom upwards.

Next, working from the top down, the hill is stabilized by installing soil nails -- long metal rods drilled back into the slope and secured with injected cement grout.

Pacific Coast Steel's role in constructing this elevated section of LRT consists of three cast-in-place, reinforced concrete bridges, reconstruction of the eastbound Waring Road interchange, an elevated passenger station serving the Grantville area, several soil nail and mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls, and a parking lot at the SDSU end of the line.

Using this system, stability and structural support to the slope is provided by the soil nails to which heavily galvanised steel Soil Panel cages are attached.

More than 500 soil nail walls have been completed in the United States with an estimated $100 million savings in construction costs alone.