{"id":123018,"date":"2026-04-15T16:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maccaferri.com\/uk\/success-stories\/a93-craighall-gorge-road-improvement-reinforced-earth-retaining-wall\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:03:08","slug":"a93-craighall-gorge-road-improvement-reinforced-earth-retaining-wall","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.maccaferri.com\/uk\/success-stories\/a93-craighall-gorge-road-improvement-reinforced-earth-retaining-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"A93 Craighall Gorge Road Improvement Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Installing Terramesh\u00ae soil reinforcement<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Filling of integral gabion facia<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Completed Terramesh\u00ae units<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Completed Terramesh\u00ae units<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Typical section drawing<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>

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    Challenge<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div>\n
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    The A93 Perth to Braemar road, a key transport route into the Scottish Highlands, runs through the narrow and steeply wooded Craighall Gorge near Blairgowrie, on the southern edge of the Cairngorms. This section of road has historically suffered from ground instability and structural challenges due to its confined geometry and difficult terrain.<\/p>\n

    The issue first became critical in 1985 when part of the existing retaining wall collapsed, requiring the installation of a temporary Bailey bridge. Despite being a short-term measure, this structure remained in place for decades, supporting over 3,000 vehicles per day, including essential commuter and tourism traffic.<\/p>\n

    Detailed geotechnical and engineering assessments later confirmed that the slopes within Craighall Gorge were not stable enough to support new carriageway construction. In addition, the restricted working space made it impossible to safely carry out major road improvements while keeping the A93 open to traffic. Given the strategic importance of this route, a long-term and resilient infrastructure solution was required.<\/p>\n

    Perth and Kinross Council\u2019s Environment Services therefore proposed the construction of a new road alignment to bypass the unstable section. Consulting Engineers Mouchel designed a 2.4 km single carriageway running parallel to the existing road but at a higher elevation to improve safety and long-term performance.<\/p>\n

    A key engineering challenge emerged at the southern tie-in point, where the new elevated road needed to connect seamlessly with the existing lower-level carriageway. This required the design and construction of a 130 m long retaining wall capable of forming a smooth, stable transition between the two levels while accommodating complex ground conditions.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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    Solution<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div>\n
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    Maccaferri delivered an engineered retaining wall solution using a hybrid reinforced soil system combining geogrid reinforcement with a Gabion Terramesh\u00ae facing. This design provided a cost-effective, durable, and structurally efficient solution suited to the challenging ground conditions and environmental setting.<\/p>\n

    The retaining structure ranged in height from 2.5 m to 7.0 m and incorporated Maccaferri Paragrid 80\/15 uniaxial geogrid as the primary reinforcement. The geogrid layers were installed at vertical intervals of 500 mm and 1000 mm within compacted backfill, primarily consisting of site-won Class 6I material. This approach minimised the need for imported fill, improving both sustainability and project efficiency.<\/p>\n

    The outer face of the wall was formed using the Gabion Terramesh\u00ae system, which provides a durable, stone-faced finish that blends naturally with the surrounding landscape. In addition to its aesthetic benefits, the gabion facing contributes additional mass and stability, enhancing the overall performance of the reinforced earth structure.<\/p>\n

    Both the Paragrid geogrid and Gabion Terramesh\u00ae system are BBA certified for Roads and Bridges applications, ensuring compliance with UK infrastructure standards. The completed retaining wall meets the Scottish Executive\u2019s requirement for a 120-year design life, delivering a long-term solution for slope stabilisation and road infrastructure improvement.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>

    Used Products<\/h2>
    \"TerraMesh\"<\/div>
    TerraMesh<\/h6>Maccaferri Terramesh\u00ae Family includes different facing options to build a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) structures and Reinforced Soil Sl<\/span>View\n \n <\/a>
    star<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Maccaferri delivered an engineered retaining wall solution using a hybrid reinforced soil system combining geogrid reinforcement with a Gabion Terr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12703,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","stories-category":[],"stories-tag":[],"class_list":["post-123018","stories","type-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"products":[113675],"applications":[106318,106318],"solutions":[106504],"sectors":[106246]},"yoast_head":"\nA93 Craighall Gorge Road Improvement Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall - Maccaferri UK & Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore our Success Stories: A93 Craighall Gorge Road Improvement Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall. 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