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Soft verge erosion is one of the most common causes of edge deterioration on rural roads. When HGVs or agricultural vehicles leave the carriageway, unsupported verges can collapse, creating safety hazards, increasing maintenance costs and reducing road width. This guide explains why roadside verge failure occurs, how verge reinforcement works and when ground reinforcement systems such as EcoGrid E50 are an appropriate solution.
A soft verge is the unpaved strip of land that runs alongside the edge of a road, typically consisting of grass, soil or gravel. These areas provide structural support to the road edge, assist with drainage and offer a safe recovery area for vehicles that may need to leave the carriageway.
While soft verges are suitable for light, occasional traffic, they are not designed to withstand repeated use by heavy vehicles. Over time, the weight of HGVs, agricultural machinery, buses and emergency vehicles can cause the ground to rut, erode and lose its structural integrity, leading to costly repairs and potential safety risks.
Installing EcoGrid E50 on the soft verge not only provides support so that the highway won’t erode and expands the width of the road and aids drainage and refuse areas. It gives HGV vehicles more room to manoeuvre on narrow roads and eliminates the risk of a tip-over.
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Without Reinforcement |
With EcoGrid Reinforcement |
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Edge Erosion |
Stable Edges |
|
Regular Maintenance Required |
Low Maintenance |
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Standing Water |
Improved Drainage, 100% Permeable |
|
Carriageway Narrows Over Time |
Increased Usable Width |
|
Excessive Mud |
Firm Shoulder with Grass or Gravel infill |
The extended area of EcoGrid now acts as a drainage system, to stop rainwater or stormwater from building and flooding. It also reduces the risk of vehicles tipping over due to soft ground.
Every EcoGrid has its own axle loading capacity with our EcoGrid E50 having a massive 1000 tonnes plus capability when filled with an angular aggregate, ideal for highways where a tough robustly tested product is a must.
EcoGrid is the only product of its type to be fully certified and tested for loading claims. Our NATO (Trusted British and ally purchase) number is MOD / 9330-99-858-1406. We also offer a no-quibble 20-year guarantee on all products within our range if installed to our specifications.
EcoGrid has contributed and helped to reduce risk on roads across the globe.
Within our product range we have EcoGrid E50, the heavy-duty solution that can achieve a lot, such as highways, lorry parking, aircraft landing area etc. We also have our heaviest duty grid, E80, which can withstand loads 1,500 t/m² when infilled.
If you have any questions regarding to EcoGrid, don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@ecogrid.co.uk. Our staffs are more than happy to help.
