Professional structural engineers from the Ministry of Panama decided to use the retaining wall system constructed of stacked EnviroGrid® Geocell panels, in order to increase the width of the road and eliminate embankment erosion. Construction began with clearing the unstable soil and vegetation from the embankment and road. The base was leveled and micro-piles constructed from PVC pipe were driven into the ground to increase the soil's bearing capacity. The piles were filled with concrete and two were placed per EnviroGrid® panel, tied into the first layer of EnviroGrid®, which was also filled with concrete. Subsequent layers were built on top of the first and filled with on-site soils high in lime content. The top layer was filled with road material and guardrails were set with concrete.

EnviroGrid® was used to create a monolithic system, comprised of retaining walls and slope protection, resistant to erosion above and below the natural river walls. The system reshaped the river banks to soften the course of flow and established proper drainage from surrounding areas. Adjacent slopes were protected and the resulting system was vegetated to provide a long term solution. During the dry season, the riverbed was excavated to 1.5m below natural grade to allow for construction of a stable foundation resistant to the erosive forces of the river. EnviroGrid® layers, 6" tall and 5 cells deep were stacked to build a 3m high, 212m long retaining wall. The layers below the natural river bottom were wrapped with a non-woven geotextile to prevent undermining of the system. The front 2 cells of each wall were filled with lean concrete, and the remainder filled with local gravel and stones. The slopes above the wall were reshaped to 45 degrees and protected with the EnviroGrid® panels, filled with local dirt and vegetated immediately with Chorrerana grass. The few trees remaining at the river's edge were protected with individual retaining walls.

EnviroGrid® Geocell was the chosen solution because of its speed of construction and ease of installation and use. After cost comparison estimates, the product was by far the best option for the project. EnviroGrid® was not only cost effective, but a proven solution, as the crew had experienced previous success with EnviroGrid® in other projects. To complete the project, 7-8 crew members worked together in order to streamline the process. An excavator foreman completed the excavation and filled the cells while an excavator operator set and checked the grade along the roadway. Two crew members prepped the area by stretching the cells around the forms. In the trench, three crew members placed the cells, and then compacted and raked the aggregate. Other staff was utilized to transport materials to and from the site as needed.

EnviroGrid® 6" Geocell was chosen as the best option for the access road, as it provided a cost-effective and sustainable solution for this area where limited infill material options were available. Due to the effect on the structural coefficient of sand, EnviroGrid® not only allowed for the use of locally available sands, but also increased the structural number of the sand through its confinement abilities, which in turn, cut down on the amount of aggregate needed. The road was graded and compacted in order to prepare the sub-grade. The EnviroGrid® panels were installed over a non-woven geotextile that provided a separation layer between the sub-grade and geocell. The cells were then filled with locally available sandy soils.