GABION RETAINING WALLS AT GODA PARK

A gabion wall for retaining the earth was constructed. The main function of a bank protection structure is to provide a substantial interface between the water flow and the containing ground. As the founding soil was soft clay, the gabion retaining wall was the perfect solution for the proposed site due to its advantageous characteristics like: 1. Cost Effectiveness. 2. Simplicity in Construction. 3. Flexibility. 4. Durability. 5. Drainage and permeability 6. Environmental compatibility. The top slope of the embankment was protected with 0.3m thick Reno mattresses. Among the various advantages of gabions and mattresses, the most striking feature which prompted Nashik Municipal Corporation to adopt this solution was flexibility. The flexibility of the structures help to cope with the alternate expansion and contraction characteristics of soil. The soil at the site was very soft clay which shows very poor shear characteristics. Angle of internal friction of native soil was 15 degrees and cohesion not more than 25 kpa. The initial proposal suggested by consultant was for reinforced concrete retaining wall which needed elaborate foundation arrangement. The gabion solution was adopted as it is a flexible structure which can be founded even in poor ground without extensive ground improvements. The speed to be attained for the construction was very fast and critical as the whole project had to be finished before the Kumba Mela of 2004. The whole construction was finished before the schedule.