Germany – Retaining Walls – Construction Services KIB *3230* Renovation of Retaining Wall Saarburg II km 62.085 ldB

The project 'SW Saarburg II' involves the renewal of the retaining wall from km 62.085 to km 63.012 on the VzG route 3230 from Saarbrücken to Karthaus. Inspections of the structure, built in 1860, reveal significant damage including cracks, exposed reinforcement, and spalling along its entire length. Additionally, the fall protection is completely corroded for 50 meters at the beginning of the structure and is partially missing, rusted, or fallen over. Several railing posts are broken, and there is vegetation that needs to be removed from the earth body under the retaining wall. There is also an increased traffic safety risk due to insufficient safety space between the left track and the railing on the retaining wall. The structure has been classified as condition category 4 due to severe damage. As the expert assesses that an economical renovation or repair is no longer feasible and to avoid a potential line closure, the retaining wall in the area of km 62.085 – km 63.012 needs to be renewed promptly. The new retaining wall is planned as a cantilever wall. The chosen variant includes a support structure at the base of the existing slope pavement, consisting of a deep-founded cantilever wall with a front gabion wall, which serves as a compensatory measure for the sealing of the slope pavement. The emergency route runs to the left of the railway line, while the embankment extension is constructed up to the cantilever wall with a slope of 1:3 to ensure the stability of the embankment extension. The flattening of the slope and the increase in the catch height will prevent the slope from sliding on the glide level or the slope pavement. A filling rod railing with individual foundations will be constructed along the edge of the slope, immediately next to the emergency route. The cantilever wall runs along the base of the slope and will be constructed from double U-profiles with precast concrete elements as infill. Depending on the required catch height, back anchoring is planned. The gabion wall will be positioned directly in front of the cantilever wall, with corresponding recesses in the areas of the supports and back anchoring to ensure accessibility to the anchor heads at all times. The foundation of the gabion wall will be on a 30 cm thick, frost-resistant reinforced concrete foundation. The new retaining wall will run at the base of the railway line, immediately next to Federal Highway 51. Additionally, the overhead line masts in the construction area will be renewed.