Providing stability to a highway cut in a landslide area with the use of diaphragm wall panels

Abstract

The route of the D1 highway in the Lietavská Lúčka - Dubná Skala section near Žilina is taken forward by a 17 m deep cut in a section about 300 m long. The first proposed solution of the highway route was based on the assumption that it is a stable area. However, during the construction of the highway cut an old landslide area with a depth of shear surfaces of up to 25 m was identified right in the area of the cut. Therefore, massive measures had to be designated to assure that the area above the highway and the access to the tunnel portal were not threatened by landslides. When addressing the security of the cut, an unusual solution was used - anchored diaphragm wall panels of underground concrete walling oriented towards the slope. Currently, this given solution is under construction and is controlled by inclinometers incorporated into selected diaphragm wall panels.