Muro reforzado en la conexión vital entre Quilalí-Wiwilí, Nicaragua.

The road connecting the municipalities of Wiwilí and Quilalí in the department of Nueva Segovia, in northern Nicaragua, is of vital importance for the region due to key factors, such as the connection it creates between the departments of Jinotega and Nueva Segovia, facilitating transit between communities that previously faced communication difficulties. Prior to its construction, the inhabitants depended on roads in poor condition or river services, such as the crossing of the Coco River in Pangas, which represented risks and limitations, especially during the rainy season.

The region is known for its agricultural and livestock production. Municipalities such as Quilalí and Wiwilí contribute significantly to the national economy with the production of basic grains, coffee, and milk. The new road improves access to local and international markets by facilitating their transportation.

In 2024, the road suffered severe damage due to adverse weather conditions, mainly heavy rains that caused flooding and landslides, including the loss of the bench at km 288+900 of the road, as shown in Photograph 1. The high demand for this road made it essential to carry out a quick and efficient reconformation to guarantee a safe and comfortable surface for the transit of cargo vehicles.

Muro reforzado en la conexión vital entre Quilalí-Wiwilí, Nicaragua., Geomatrix

Photograph 1. Fault zone at k288+900- vital connection between Wiwilí and Quilalí.

Solution:

In order to address the problem, a geogrid-reinforced soil wall was constructed FORTGRIDUXThe new structure, an efficient and fast construction solution that guarantees stability and durability to the road infrastructure. This type of structure allows the restoration of the affected road section, providing adequate support for traffic and the vital connection between Wiwilí and Quilalí, ensuring its long-term functionality.

The system consists of compacted soil layers, reinforced with geogrids. FORTGRIDUX which improve the support capacity and resistance to horizontal forces. A wrap-around solution was used to form the façade, consisting of geosheaths PROPYBAG filled with material with organic content on the front, which are wrapped with geogrid reinforcement, promoting the growth of a living plant surface that not only improves the aesthetics of the wall, but also provides environmental and technical benefits. This design favors harmonization with the natural surroundings, reducing the environmental impact of the intervention. The typical cross section of the wall is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Typical cross-section of the proposed reinforced soil wall.

In addition, a horizontal subdrainage system was installed in the vital connection between Wiwilí and Quilalí, and a planar geodrainage system was installed in the wall trellis. PERMADRAINto facilitate the evacuation of subsurface water, minimizing the accumulation of humidity in the structure and avoiding problems such as loss of bearing capacity due to excess pore pressure, prolonging its useful life and reducing the risk of premature deterioration.

Among the main advantages of this solution are its speed of execution, its capacity to withstand high vehicular loads and seismic loads, ensuring the road's operability even under highly demanding conditions. Also, the development sustainable for the territory. Photographs 2 to 7 show the construction process.

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS