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A geogrid reinforced steep slope 60.0 m high for the stabilisation of the Valpola Landslide in Northern Italy

A rock avalanche of 35-45 million cubic meters collapsed in 1987 on the right side of the Adda river in Northern Italy, falling down into the river 1200 m below and running up about 300 m on the opposite side of the valley; the felt down material created a natural dam over 80 m high and about 2.0 km long, that completely closed the valley. The left side of the valley, that was not interested directly by the landslide but has been struck by the landslide mass, was covered by the coarse debris; the removal of the debris was making necessary the reinforcement and the stabilization of the left side. The slope was recon-structed with 6 geogrid reinforced slopes, each 10 m high (thus having a total height of 60 m). This is probably the tallest structure ever designed and constructed in Europe and one of the tallest on the world. Construction was starting in 2010 and finished in 2012. Along 2013, the reinforced structure was attacked by fire; a prompt inspection of the site was confirming the job was not suffering any serious damage.