About Defiance's Abutments

Defiance County, Ohio, was in the news frequently for a landfill fire last year and concerns about the damage the fire may be doing to the geosynthetic containment system. This year, the county is becoming known for a more positive geosynthetic issue: construction of a bridge with geosynthetic reinforcement on the abutments. The 130-foot-long steel beam construction bridge over the Tiffin River will cost under $1 million. It has received federal dollars due to its use of geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS). The footprint for GRS use is larger than conventionally used.