Roadworks to open up the construction site for the replacement of a railway power line
Temporary construction road
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Fig. 1: Crushed stone on Secutex® Green
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Fig. 2: Secutex® Green as separation and filter nonwoven
Challenge: Temporary heavy-duty routes in a sensitive environment
As part of the replacement of 110 kV railway power line between Bingen and Koblenz, continuous access to the individual pylon sites had to be created. This required unpaved roads over which heavy construction vehicles such as concrete mixers, mobile cranes and material transporters could travel safely.
The existing road network was unable to cope with these high point loads. A simple gravel backfill would have led to mixing, settlement and loss of load-bearing capacity due to the soft subsoil – thus jeopardising safety on the construction site.
A section of the track approximately 100 metres long was challenging: drone footage repeatedly showed puddles forming there, caused by the particularly soft subsoil. In combination with the increased load from construction site vehicles, the ballast structure at this point was additionally reinforced with more suitable material.
There was also another critical aspect: the formation of puddles in the immediate vicinity of natural areas could have potentially attracted amphibians. Any spawning would have led to an immediate halt to construction – with considerable time and economic consequences. For this reason, the decision was made to upgrade the path.
Another requirement was that the temporary paths should not be dismantled after the construction work had been completed, but should remain integrated into the landscape. A permanent solution using conventional materials would have been problematic from an ecological point of view – long-term residues would have affected the sensitive natural balance.
Solution: Biodegradable nonwoven as a system component
In order to stabilise the base course permanently and reliably separate the soil layers, a special non-woven fabric was used between the subsoil and ballast base course. It prevented the crushed stone from sinking into the subsoil. The entire measure reduced settlements and significantly improved the bearing capacity of the paths – even under high loads from construction site traffic. However, the choice of material was decisive: The nonwoven used – Naue Secutex® Green – is completely biodegradable. It fulfils all technical requirements during the construction phase and then decomposes completely in around two years – without leaving behind any microplastics or other environmentally harmful substances.
The decision in favour of Secutex® Green was made specifically because of the proximity to natural habitats. The environmentally friendly choice of material ensured that the construction road was not only technically reliable, but could also be operated in an ecologically responsible manner.
Result: Stable and sustainable
The geotextile used created a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly construction road. The solution combines technical performance with ecological responsibility and shows how modern geo-construction materials can fulfil the requirements of sustainable infrastructure projects.
Especially in near-natural or ecologically sensitive areas, biodegradable nonwovens offer a sustainable alternative: they enable temporary construction measures without leaving permanent traces in the environment – an ideal example of responsible building for future generations.
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