Comanche Trail Roadway

The Challenge

We needed to overcome several challenges for this project:

Complex geology- The project site lies within an area geologically characterized by the Edwards, Walnut, and Glen Rose Formations, which typically have heavily fractured zones, clay seams, and karst features that can present problems during drilling and testing core samples.

Reduced right-of-way- The roadway is a two-lane undivided roadway with significant elevation changes, sharp curves, and minimal ROW, which presents safety concerns for drivers and drillers. The permitting process to drill the borings for this project was stringent; a detailed traffic control plan for drilling activities had to be in place to protect the welfare of all involved.

Old infrastructure with poor records of construction- Various locations had horizontal and vertical displacement of the pavement surface and guardrail poles. Slope erosion and old, unfinished retaining wall structures were evident. However, we did not have useful records of the initial construction plans.

Limited resources for roadway maintenance- We were made aware of budgetary constraints early in the project. We needed to provide recommendations that would be realistic and budget-friendly to the client.

Our Solution

Since we started the project without any useful plans or records of construction, early in the project, we held several meetings with the owner to aid in reconstructing the history of the roadway. We determined that the lack of runoff control structures, such as inlets and culverts, to collect and discharge runoff has contributed to the downstream slope problems. It also caused distress to the existing pavement. To mitigate future erosion, we recommended roadway management structures consisting of curb gutters, inlets, and culverts. This runoff management system will preserve the existing slopes while also preventing water accumulation on the roadways and aiding in pavement distress. We also discussed other alternatives, such as Cast-In-Place walls, MSE retaining walls, and drilled shaft walls, to prevent slope erosion.

The Results

The client was receptive to our tailored set of solutions, which aligned with budget, traffic, and right-of-way constraints. We ensured a balance between cost-effectiveness and practicality, addressing the project's unique challenges while maintaining quality and deliverables with reasonable maintenance requirements.

We followed the project to ensure the success of each step, such as obtaining drilling permits for drilling on a dangerous, narrow roadway, efficiently completing the exploratory phase, and providing quality engineering report deliverables. A key component that made this a successful project was keeping the project team and owner aware of potential pitfalls and red flags early in the exploratory drilling and design phase. This prevented significant delays and costly change orders during construction.

Comanche Trail Roadway

Project Background

The Challenge

The Goal

Our Solution

HVJ Associates, Inc.

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