OWNER:
Infirmary Health System
P.O. Box 2226
Mobile, AL 36652

DESIGN / CONSTRUCT CONTRACTOR:
Synergy Earth Systems, LLC.
26240 Equity Drive
Daphne, AL 36526

The Infirmary Health System complex is located on a parcel of land overlooking Highway 90 in Daphne, Alabama. A bluff located along the parcel’s south property line results in a drop of over 30 feet between the existing grade at the location of the complex and Highway 90. When the complex was originally developed, a retaining wall over 700 feet in length was constructed at the top of the bluff to provide support for the parking lot adjacent to the structure. Eventually the exposed portion of the bluff beneath the original wall began to erode, threatening the stability of the original wall and the structures above.

SES was retained by the owner to design and construct a system that would permanently stabilize the lower portion of the bluff that, at its maximum, stood approximately 20 feet in height. A study by SES revealed that the most economical system would consist of a combination of walls and slopes. Two modular block retaining walls were constructed – the lower wall extended along the full length of the bluff, while the upper wall was only required for a length of approximately 275 feet. The walls were separated by a 2H:1V slope, which was eventually overlain with sod to provide permanent erosion control. Geogrid reinforcing was used to provide internal and external stability for the wall, as well as global stability for the wall/slope system. Construction of this project began in April of 2001 and was successfully completed in June of the same year