Mountain wall stabilized quickly and efficiently with shotcrete

In 2011, South Industries of Menan, Idaho was hired to stabilize a mountain wall.

In 2011, South Industries of Menan, Idaho was hired to stabilize a mountain wall.

That wall was falling down on the tunnel entrances to a coal mine.

That wall was falling down on the tunnel entrances to a coal mine.

The wall was 500 feet long and, in places, 40 to 50 feet high.

The wall was 500 feet long and, in places, 40 to 50 feet high.

The Signal Peak Energy coal mine is co-owned by FirstEnergy Corp. and Boich Companies.

The Signal Peak Energy coal mine is co-owned by FirstEnergy Corp. and Boich Companies.

Signal Peak Energy mine is located near Roundup, Montana.

Signal Peak Energy mine is located near Roundup, Montana.

Signal Peak Energy’s low-sulphur, Montana coal will be sent by rail to an Ohio utility company.

Signal Peak Energy’s low-sulphur, Montana coal will be sent by rail to an Ohio utility company.

The South Industries crew had only a two-week window in which to shotcrete the entire wall.

The South Industries crew had only a two-week window in which to shotcrete the entire wall.

They had to work fast and furious to get the project done before the winter freeze arrived.

They had to work fast and furious to get the project done before the winter freeze arrived.

A four-man crew worked for eight days.

A four-man crew worked for eight days.

Then a five-man crew worked for an additional two days.

Then a five-man crew worked for an additional two days.

Randy South said, “Shotcrete is an efficient way to place concrete. A forming system would have taken weeks or months. We put over 550 cubic yards of shotcrete where it was needed, in a very short time.”

Randy South said, “Shotcrete is an efficient way to place concrete. A forming system would have taken weeks or months. We put over 550 cubic yards of shotcrete where it was needed, in a very short time.”