Protecting exposed gas pipe on River Avon.
As an ecologically sensitive site the use of traditional hard engineered bank protection was not an option and bioengineered designs were favoured. The bags were covered with soil to be able to vegetate them and fully integrate them into the natural bank. In addition, headland would cause erosion in the river bed and consequently expose the gas pipe elsewhere. Thus, AquaRockBags® were used, stacked up to 9 layers deep and formed as a very gradual headland. The new revetment does not cause erosion in the river bed while providing sufficient protection to the gas pipe.
Facts
- Severe bank erosion exposed a main high pressure gas pipe at River Avon (UK) which supplies 80,000 houses and businesses
- Active navigation of barges and pleasure boats, with a risk of collision that would result in big explosion
- Erosion and scour created a very deep pool – up to 5 metres deep
