Rerouted or uprooted?

Dec. 28, 2000
The Ohio DOT (ODOT) showed concern for both the environment and community during a recent road widening project in Logan County when state engineers preserved the natural beauty of the Ohio farming area by rerouting a creek to make room for the lane expansion.

Part of an 18-month-long project, State Route 33 between Logan County and Columbus is being widened to four lanes. Otter Creek, a meandering stream that runs along S.R.

The Ohio DOT (ODOT) showed concern for both the environment and community during a recent road widening project in Logan County when state engineers preserved the natural beauty of the Ohio farming area by rerouting a creek to make room for the lane expansion.

Part of an 18-month-long project, State Route 33 between Logan County and Columbus is being widened to four lanes. Otter Creek, a meandering stream that runs along S.R. 33 for about 5 miles in Logan County, is an important feature of the west-central Ohio landscape and state officials did not want it ravaged by heavy construction during the project.

Engineers needed an adaptable material to provide erosion control on the side slopes of the reconstructed creek bed. To accomplish this task, engineers selected a three-dimensional Geosynthetic nylon matting, called Enkamat, manufactured by Akzo Nobel Geosynthetics Co., Asheville, N.C.

"A lot of care was taken to relocate Otter Creek and restore it to as much of a natural stream as possible," said Steve Kremer, ODOT project engineer. "Enkamat was used to keep the least amount of erosion possible from occurring in the creek."

Kremer said the company tailored the product to conform to the varying widths of the creek bed's side slopes. "The mat was custom-made for the job," he said. "The pieces were specially put together for it."

The product, which was manufactured in rolls that tapered from 34 ft to 8 ft in width, was laid along the stream and fastened with pins. According to Kremer, approximately 36,000 sq yd of matting was applied to the side slopes over the summer and the stream relocation was completed last fall.

The product's three-dimensional geomatrix of heavy nylon monofilaments is 90% open space, which facilitates root growth and helps prevent compaction, according to the maker. Its nylon matting is designed to provide a tough, natural root reinforcing system that revives and protects turf. The product's resilient matting remains open, allowing oxygen and moisture to reach plant roots.

Department engineer Nicole Feser said the stream relocation was completed in early October. The matting has been filled with soil and grass is being planted along the side slopes, she said.

The product was specified for the S.R. 33 project by the consulting engineer, who prepared the project plans with the approval of the DOT's Hydraulic section. John Hurd, assistant hydraulic engineer, said the department has had positive results with the matting on other projects similar to the Logan County job.

"We've been specifying the product for a while and haven't heard any complaints," said Hurd. "We like to use it to protect large channels on flatter grades. We had a lot of large relocated channel [in Logan County]. That's the main reason we used the product."

Kremer said about half of the paving has been completed. The department has set a completion date for road expansion of Sept. 1.

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