Design and construction of the Terratrel Ro-Ro ramp for Second Severn Crossing

The Severn Bridge construction in the United Kingdom required a 12m high jetty ramp to allow the transportation of caissons and crawlers up to 2600 tonnes weight to waiting sea barges. These loads are the heaviest ever transported in Europe and the ramp is inundated throughout its life by the second highest tide in the world and is located in a severe windswept marine estuary. Reinforced Earth ramps were chosen as the safest, most economical and least damaging to the environment of the sea bed. Terratrel facing of steel grid supported by High Adherence earth reinforcing strips provided an optimum solution. The structure is the largest marine Terratrel structure in the world and is the first reinforced soil structure of any description to support such large moving loads. Fig 1 . The Reinforced Earth Company, UK won the Highly Commended Award in the British Construction Industry Awards, 1993 “for this creative, bold and cost effective solution”, said the judges.