Cooks Valley Road
Retaining Wall Saves Time, Money and Reduces Traffic
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
Like many cities across the U.S., Kingsport, Tennessee is in the midst of suburban expansion and experiencing many of the challenges that growth brings. To alleviate traffic in a particularly busy outlying residential area, the municipality launched a construction project to widen Cooks Valley Road.
One quarter-mile section of the road called for the construction of a retaining wall built into the yard of a homeowner just behind the sidewalk that bordered the widened street. The original specifications for the wall proposed the use of a competitive wall system. Due to the fact that hard rock lay just below the surface of the wall, using this system meant that the city of Kingsport would need to exercise eminent domain, seize property from the owners and blast away the rock to provide enough room to install the geo grid, which would provide strength to the wall. Belgard® provided another solution.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
Belgard’s Mega-Tandem™ 3-in-1 Wall System was proposed as an alternative segmental retaining wall system to save cost without reducing quality. One of the system’s key advantages was the elimination of geogrid while still providing the required wall strength.
Mega-Tandem™ also offered significant installation efficiencies. The originally specified material required 2,800-lb. concrete blocks and daily use of a track hoe. In contrast, Mega-Tandem™ could be installed by a three- to four-person crew using smaller, more compact equipment. Its reduced unit size also decreased the number of tractor-trailers needed to deliver material into an already congested area.
The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
Mega-Tandem™ provides the natural appearance of chiseled stone, complementing the surrounding landscape. The versatile system can be used to construct curved or straight retaining and freestanding walls, making it suitable for a wide range of commercial hardscape applications. Its innovative design creates sturdy walls while simplifying construction, and its long-term durability, with an 8,500-PSI compressive strength rating, makes it well suited for harsh freeze-thaw climates.
“We actually had three choices of materials for the wall,” stated Nathan Jackson, President of Jackson Jones Construction. “Since the project entailed cutting into the property, the city consulted with the homeowner in regard to the final selection. When you combine price considerations and the actual look of the wall, I’m not sure there’s a better material out there, especially compared with the big block system. I’ve had so many positive comments about the wall, and both the homeowners and the city are very pleased with it.”
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