Road renovation on the Kaistenberg section
March 11, 2022
After a long and intensive planning phase, the resurfacing of Kaistenbergstrasse was able to start in January 2021. The existing surface on the cantonal road between Frick and Kaisten will be completely removed and replaced with a new three-layer surface. The road, which is currently only 5.50 meters wide in places, will in future be 6.20 meters wide along the entire section. Completion of the extensive project is scheduled for the end of 2022.
The renovation is being carried out in two phases. The first lasted from January to September 2021 and was temporarily interrupted by snowfall in winter and prolonged rainfall. However, it was still constructed and completed on schedule.
The 140-metre-long bored pile wall was constructed in collaboration with specialist subcontractor JMS RISI AG. This company also drilled the holes in the load-bearing subsoil for the inclined nails and micropiles, which serve to support the road. At the same time, the ERNE structural and civil engineering experts installed the back-anchored concrete head bolts, which secure the edge to the valley side over a length of 1.7 kilometers. In addition, drainage and media pipes were laid in the trench. In the next stage, the embankment was filled to widen the road.
The second phase followed in September 2021 with the full closure of the section of road. The closure is planned until the completion of the construction site in November 2022 and is primarily necessary to ensure the safety of workers on the construction site. In addition, the construction period can be significantly shortened because several construction phases can be completed at the same time.
The sections of around 400 meters in the direction of Kaisten and 700 meters (average stage length 300 meters) between Frick and Kaistenberg will be completed by the ERNE civil engineering team with a foundation layer after completion of the subsoil work and finished with the grading and surfacing work. On the mountain side, a 500-metre-long limestone retaining wall is being built to secure the slope. Stages three, four and eight are currently being implemented. The work described above is being repeated on different sections of each stage.
A major challenge is the coordination between the various groups and types of work on the construction site. From building construction to civil engineering and road construction to special civil engineering, everything is represented. On average, this means twelve employees on site. In addition, the construction site spans almost two years and therefore all seasons. This always entails the risk of delays in planning due to various weather influences.
We are pleased that the ERNE building and civil engineering professionals were able to overcome all the challenges. The road was reopened to traffic on schedule in mid-November 2022.
