Pratts Dam Road Bank Stabilization Project

Project Description: Pratts Dam Road is a local road located in West Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pa. Pratts Dam Road serves as a vital link for emergency services within the Township and maintaining the connection is a high priority for the Township. Approximately 1,600-feet of the roadway, which runs adjacent to the West Branch of Brandywine Creek, is built on an inclined rock surface above the stream and is currently exhibiting failure. The goal of this project is to re-establish the roadway by stabilizing the streambank to prevent further settlement and provide safety features meeting current PennDOT design standards to protect the traveling public. The first Phase I of this project entails a geotechnical investigation for the Pratts Dam Road. To determine the most suitable approach to stabilize the roadway, geotechnical investigations must be performed to provide the needed information to analyze and determine the best alternative for stabilization. The geotechnical investigation will be performed to characterize the existing roadbed fill, determine the underlying natural soils and locate the depth to rock. The results of the analysis and testing will establish the parameters for moving into Phase II: Design and provide the Township with the most economical solution to mitigate the existing condition. Two (2) soldier pile retaining walls were determined to be the most feasible solution.