Dhoon School Gabion Wall Inspection

Site Inspection {{image:6949847}} |Site|Area|Structure|By| |---|---|---|---| |Dhoon School|Boundary wall to pavement|Gabion Wall|Chris lally| | | | | | During a recent visit to a drainage issue on the highway drain in the layby outside Dhoon School there is evidence of water flowing out of the school embankment and onto the pavement. Further investigation revealed the following: - • Seepage of water through the earth embankment. - • Deformation of the Gabion Wall along the crest of the embankment. The most northerly end of the school comprises a raised level playing field that is substantially higher than the road level below. A sloping grassed embankment fall to a terrace where a bush line and gabion wall sit before falling down to the pavement level. It would appear that along the terrace is supposed to be a drainage system that flows into a pipe that discharges into the road gulley in the school layby. Distortion of the line of the gabions toward the pavement suggest that there has been some force applied to the rear of the wall. I surmise that this has been caused by surface water collecting behind the gabion forcing its deflection. Investigation of the small drainage pipe with the jetter suggested that the pipe and system is blocked and inoperable. Should further heavy rainfall generate a volume of water to the rear of the gabion further deforming it then it is only a matter of time until the gabions collapse onto the pavement with the inherent danger. I have arranged for the footpath to be temporarily isolated with barriers until a proper structural assessment is carried out. Any repairs would be advisable when the school is off. ## Water seepage through the lower embankment {{image:6949849}} {{image:6949851}}