TYRE WALLS IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

Scrap tyres are a disposal problem. They are strong, durable and freely available in large quantities. Tyres can be a substitute for expensive civil engineering construction materials. West Yorkshire MCC has developed and implemented a system using scrap tyres as face and anchor units for retaining walls. Savings of over 75 per cent of the cost of a conventional retaining wall have been obtained. Details of construction and cost are given for a particular structure which was built using this system on M62 near Bradford. Tyres can also be used in new embankments to increase the steepness of the side slopes. Savings of at least 10 per cent are possible by designing embankments reinforced with tyres so as to obtain varying gradient side-slopes that efficiently match ground conditions. Examples on good and poor ground are considered. (TRRL)