Project Name: Lake Anna Cart Path
Project Location: Virginia
Lake Anna, which is located approximately 70 miles south of Washington D.C., is one of the largest freshwater inland reservoirs in Virginia. The lake covers 13,000 scenic acres, making it a popular destination for sailing, water skiing, and sport fishing.
Waterfront homes enjoy spectacular views and unlimited access to Lake Anna, but the landscape can pose some unique geotechnical challenges. Owners of a house situated atop a steep slope needed a safe and reliable access path from their home to their boathouse at the bottom of the hill. To accomplish this, they needed to add steps, retaining walls, and a stone cart path that would blend seamlessly into the natural landscape.
The steep 2:1 slope presented a challenge to the construction of the cart path. The property owners worked with the contractor to devise a plan for this project by first addressing the steep grade. The contractor proposed cutting back the earth to lessen the pitch of the downslope, then moving the excavated soil to the bottom of the hill where it would be graded to create a flat parking lot for carts.
The site contractor first began by removing vegetation from the face of the hillside, then made an 11- by 9-foot cut into the slope that began 350 feet from the top driveway, and extended down the hill to the proposed flat landing area. The excavated soil was then used to level the 15- by 15-foot parking lot. This method reduced the grade to a 2.5:1 slope. After excavating the cart path, the bottom of the slope was hard armored with large rip rap stone. On the backside of the cart path, the contractor built a seven-foot block retaining wall to support the upper yard and provide structure above the cart path.
The GEOWEB Geocells Stabilize Hillside Cart Path
The newly formed cart path required a long-term solution to stabilize the surface and prevent erosion. Colonial Construction Materials, a local material provider, recommended the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System to create a stable pathway from the main house to the boathouse.
Approximately 3,220 square feet of four-inch deep, mid-cell GEOWEB (GW30V) was installed along the pathway. Mechanical joints were secured using the patented ATRA® Key geocell connector, and the entire system was anchored into place using 12-inch rebar stakes capped with ATRA® Stake Clips. Once anchored into place, crews infilled the GEOWEB system with decorative #87 stone, and then compacted and leveled the infill to complete the installation.
Project Results:
The cart path wraps from the top of the house, past the retaining wall and lookout landing, and arrives at the stabilized parking landing. The family now has a safe and stabilized pathway to enjoy the entire lakefront property for years to come.
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