If you’ve recently driven Highway #1 through the Fraser Canyon you couldn’t miss the brand new mammoth rock wall that has been constructed one kilometer south of Hell’s Gate.

Gabion Wall Systems, owned and operated by Barriere residents Shawn and Ryan Fadear, recently completed this Ministry of Highways project, which is the first gabion rock fall impact berm constructed in North America.

The wire baskets, or gabions, that contain the rock are holding approximately 214 truckloads (1,500 m3) of rock, and enclose 571 truckloads (4000m3) of pit run gravel.

Gabion Wall Systems worked with Gable Construction of Kamloops on the project that took just over six weeks to complete. A total of 96 metres long, the 50 metres mid-section is eight metres high and seven metres wide at the base. The two end sections are seven and six metres high.

The embankment berm replaces a three metres high cement berm constructed in 1960, and is meant to shield the highway from large rocks that fall in the slide area. The wall was designed to withstand rock impacts of 10,000 kj (Kilojoules), or a rock just smaller than a Volkswagen Beetle weighing 10,000 lbs, traveling 30 ft. per second at impact. The impact side of the structure is draped with conveyor belting to protect the wire baskets during impact.

Both Shawn and Ryan learned the art of building gabions from father-in-law and grampa, Ernie Lozier of Barriere.

Ryan began working with his grampa at the age of 14, while still attending high school. After working 25 years with Stamer Logging, Ryan’s father Shawn, left the logging industry to join his son in building gabion retaining walls.

“We had a crew of eight on the highway project, and despite 40°C degree weather, highway traffic, and working with a completely new gabion basket and design, the crew did an excellent job,” said Shawn.

Shawn stated the highway truckers refer to the new rock fall berm as “the Castle”. He adds all who were involved in the project, from the engineers who designed it, to the guys who built it; take pride in the fact that when the next large rock falls it will not make it to the highway. The wall will prevent many serious accidents in the area for decades to come.

Maccaferri of Italy, the manufactures of gabion products since the late 1800’s, plan to use this project as a basis for a presentation at the 2009 Highway Geologists Symposium to be held in New York. This symposium is a gathering of geo-technical engineers that specialize in highway infrastructure and safety.

Asked how long these gabion walls last Ryan answered, “There as some in Italy that were built in the 1800’s and they are still standing. The walls are outliving people.”

– North Thompson Star Journal (Black Press)