Civil / Structural

Veracruz Road Reclamation

La Trocha, VER (Mex)

1,560 LF

Shoreline Protected

7,000 yd³

Sand Inside TITANTubes®

2 Layers

Non-Woven Geotextile Drape

30 Years

Projected Design Life

All Case Studies

Overview

The design consisted of a geotextile tube revetment installed along 1,560 linear feet (475m) of shoreline along the street 15 de Octubre in Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico. The revetment design included the installation of 19 units of 45ft (13.7m) circumference by 82ft (25m) in length, sand-filled geotextile tubes. This design required approximately 20,000 yd³ (15,300 m³) of sand fill, 43,200 US tons (39,200 metric tons) of armor stone, and 360,000 ft² (33,445 m²) of asphalt paving. The geotextile tube revetment system extended from a toe elevation of -3.5 ft (-1.07m) NAVD to a crest elevation of +8.5 ft (+2.59m) NAVD. It is projected that the revetment provides protection for an estimated lifespan of approximately 30 years. The geotextile tubes were made of a specially developed high-strength woven polypropylene fabric designed with a double-reinforced port as well as intermediate “rip-stops” to minimize puncture rips from propagating.

Challenges

The construction of dams for electricity generation severely altered the hydrologic network and reduced the sediment supply to the system. The diagnostic for the Alvarado wetland is that the system had fallen into a state of sediment imbalance. Erosion occurred at the inlet connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Laguna de Alvarado and eroded the shoreline to such a degree that the water reached many business and residential structures — leaving them with no protection or access to the rest of the community other than by small boat.

Solution

A unique feature of this project was the use of a new, highly efficient high-strength geotextile tube fabric possessing an extremely tight weave to retain fines during the filling operation while still allowing rapid dewatering for the toe of the slope in the reclamation area. These geotextile tubes contained approximately 7,000 cubic yards (5,385 cubic meters) of fill sand and did not require an anti-scour apron — as is customary for coastal geotextile tube applications — due to the use of 2 layers of non-woven geotextile draped over the geotextile tubes before applying the armor stone. The coastal businesses and residents of La Trocha now have road access and protection.

Benefits

The completed revetment restored road access and structural protection for residents and businesses that had been isolated by erosion.
The 30-year design life delivers long-term coastal stability, while the specialized high-strength fabric and rip-stop construction minimize the risk of puncture propagation.
The system’s combination of geotextile tubes, non-woven drape layers, and armor stone eliminated the need for a traditional anti-scour apron — simplifying construction while maintaining full structural integrity.

Project Features

TITANTube®

Flintex™

Coastal Protection

Civil / Structural

Coastal / Marine

Key Objectives

Land Reclamation
Stop Erosion
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material
Improve Ecosystem Quality
Road Rebuild

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