Filtration and separation at the base of the embankment, Highway R7

Geodren® PPST for road construction, Highway R7

Geodren® PPST: nonwoven geotextile for road construction, used as a separation and filtration layer at the base of the embankment on Highway R7.

Problem

Southeastern European countries show a strong commitment to developing their national infrastructure. They understood that improving road infrastructure can bring immediate and lasting economic benefits to modern and developing economies alike. The Kosovo government turned to a joint venture, led by Bechtel, to connect the country to Albania and the Adriatic.

The plan involved an alternative alignment for the Kukes-Pristina highway. This solution eliminated almost 5 kilometers of costly tunnels, saving millions of euros. The economic benefits extend well beyond Kosovo’s borders. The particular type of soil crossed required the study of specific solutions for both the construction of the works and rainwater management.

Solution

Engineers chose Geodren® PPST 260, a virgin polypropylene geotextile, as an anti-contamination layer between the embankment and the foundation soil. The excellent filtration and separation performance of Geodren® PPST 260 maintains the granulometric characteristics of the fill material over time. The material thus prevents the migration of fines.

The same type of geotextile was also used to line all the drainage trenches at the base of the embankments. Geodren® PPST 500 and Geodren® PPST 700 were also used on the same project: two virgin polypropylene geotextiles ideal for protecting the waterproofing of first-flush rainwater tanks.