Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 21

Searching to maximize
stress reduction ratio
with biaxial geogrids
and timber piling
By Mickey L. Snider, P.E.
S
ome projects almost design themselves. Dense sand? Very
stiff clayey soils? Deep groundwater? Well, projects within
the collar counties surrounding Cook County and the city
of Chicago occasionally encounter a different sort of soil
beast: peat and muck. Largely plant-based deposits settled in
kettle bogs formed following the Wisconsin Glaciation. These
deposits are often revealed during investigations in support
of roadways and infrastructure projects and the Burlington
Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad Bridge replacement
over Interstate 294 was one such project.
Traditionally, the typical local response to encountering
these materials has been either large-scale removal of the
material or construction of land bridges consisting of tightly
spaced, buried concrete pile bents with reinforced-concrete
slab decks and deep, steel pilings. These traditional design
and construction solutions, however, are costly to state and
county agencies in both immediate construction dollars, as
well as long-term maintenance.
The BNSF rail bridge replacement, part of the major reconstruction
of Interstate 294, also known as the Central TriState
Tollway, was required to maintain three active tracks
at all times. A 3-track shoo-fly bridge would be constructed
immediately to the south of the existing bridge and would
require the eastern approach embankment to widen and push
south by almost 90 feet (27.4 meters) at the toe. Beginning
approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) east of the bridge, the
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
MAXIMIZING STRESS
REDUCTION WITH BIAXIAL
GEOGRIDS AND TIMBER PILING
LOCATION
Interstate 294, Western Springs,
Cook County, Ill.
OWNER
Illinois Tollway
CONTRACTOR
Walsh Construction
PRIME ENGINEERING CONSULTANT
Gannett Fleming, Chicago, Ill.
GEOTECHNICAL SUBCONSULTANT
Wang Engineering, Inc.,
Lombard, Ill.
Mickey Snider, P.E. is a senior geotechnical
engineer and technical services manager at
Wang Engineering, Inc., a Terracon Company,
since 2003. He has authored over 100 bridge
and retaining wall structure geotechnical
reports for the Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway
and has over 15 years of experience performing
various types of ground improvement studies
including the use of geosynthetics.
All figures courtesy of Mickey Snider, Wang Engineering, Inc.
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
21

http://www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com

Geoysynthetics August/September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geoysynthetics August/September 2023

Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - Cover1
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - Cover2
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 1
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 2
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 3
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 4
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 5
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 6
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 7
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 8
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 9
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 10
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 11
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 12
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 13
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 14
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 15
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 16
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 17
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 18
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 19
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 20
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 21
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 22
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 23
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 24
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 25
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 26
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 27
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 28
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 29
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 30
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 31
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 32
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 33
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 34
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 35
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 36
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 37
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 38
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 39
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 40
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 41
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 42
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 43
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 44
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - Cover3
Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - Cover4
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