The TF-445 road connects the local municipality of Buenavista del Norte, with Punta de Teno’s lighthouse and is located on the north-west coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). The road runs through a mountainous area with high slopes that are prone to erosion by rain and wind. As a consequence, the tougher rocks are left precariously positioned and over the course of many years, there have been numerous rock falls that have threated the road safety, forcing its closure on several occasions.
The TF-445 road connects the local municipality of Buenavista del Norte, with Punta de Teno’s lighthouse, located on the north-west coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain).
The road runs through a mountainous area with high slopes, made up of basaltic strata interspersed with other volcanic materials. The softer materials are constantly eroded by rain and wind, leaving the harder rocks precariously positioned and with a very high risk of falling.
Over the course of many years, there have been numerous rock falls that have threatened the road safety and even forced its closure on several occasions.
A detailed investigation was carried out involving the analysis of the most dangerous trajectories of the potentially unstable rocks, calculating their related energy.
With more than 60 years’ experience in rockfall protection systems and natural hazard mitigation, Maccaferri proposed the installation of its dynamic rockfall barriers to intercept falling rocks, preventing them from reaching the highway.
On the basis of the energy evaluations, two different barriers were selected:
- 110m-long x 8m-high 3,000kJ barrier (RMC 300/A)
- 140m-long x 7m-high 5,000kJ barrier (RMC 500/A)
These two barriers were supplied in a complete kit form, consisting of posts, bracing cables and energy dissipating devices. The interception structure consists of steel ring net panels, complemented by an additional hexagonal double twisted wire mesh to capture smaller rock fragments.
During an impact the barrier progressively deflects, absorbing the energy of the falling rock; loads are dissipated throughout the structure. The rock is prevented from moving any further.
The energy dissipating devices are patented compression devices which absorb the applied energy by deformation, and not by friction, thereby offering a more reliable and safer performance than traditional absorption systems.
Both barriers have ETAG 027 compliance (Falling Rock Protection Kits), and they are classified as Class 6 (RMC 300/A) and Class 8 (RMC 500/A) for the Energy Level classification and category A for the Barrier Residual Height. The efficiency of the RMC barriers means they have a low deformation during impact; a critical parameter in this project, given the proximity of the dynamic barriers to the highway.
Maccaferri Mac.RO™ systems are installed daily, worldwide, in demanding applications, reassuring clients with safe, cost effective and reliable natural hazard protection.
