In New Albany, OH, engineers with EP Ferris and Associates were working to widen the shoulder along Beech Road to provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists. Beside the road was a downward slope toward a small lake, making it costly and time consuming to widen the road and relocate the sidewalk. Some of the possible solutions to a problem like this include building a retaining wall and sidewalk or installing an elevated boardwalk.
EP Ferris and Associates ultimately decided that specifying a PermaTrak elevated walkway was more effective than widening the road shoulder, which would require imported backfill and construction on a retaining wall and sidewalk. “The low maintenance and longevity of PermaTrak made it a great fit,” Matt Sloat of EP Ferris and Associates said. PermaTrak has been an effective application for similar sites and gives engineers a durable and customizable option to consider.
“The city is happy with what was provided and (PermaTrak) is a good fit for the industrial area of Beech Road. I would recommend PermaTrak for other projects. Jason was great to work with and provided drawings which made it a good experience as far as plan development,” Sloat said.