CASE STUDY The Berks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA) developed a tract of land north of Interstate Highway I-78 along SR 501 in Bethel Township, PA. The new industrial development will increase traffic flow in the general area that has resulted in the widening of SR 0501 and the construction of a new SR 0501 bridge crossing of I-78 that will be capable of handling a six-lane divided highway. The widened roadway and new bridge created 3:1 (H:V) embankments that required the establishment of vegetation during the non-growing season in south-central Pennsylvania. SITUATION PennDOT I-78 Project BethelTownship,PA The“Erosion Control & Construction Plantings on Noncropland”publication issued by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, recommends the planting of cool-season grass species before the recognized “first frost” date. In south-central Pennsylvania that date is recognized as October 15th. The contractor wanted to establish vegetation on the highway shoulder embankments after October 15th and utilized East Coast Erosion Blankets ECS-1 Single Net Straw RECPs. SOLUTION The ECS-1 RECP demonstrated its ability to retain moisture and moderate the soil temperature, thereby allowing the vegetation to fully establish within twenty-six days of installation during the non-growing season (shown at right). ECS-1 acted as a mulch and absorb precipitation that minimizes raindrop splash erosion of the soil beneath the RECP. RESULT TRANSPORTATION PRODUCT PROFILES • ECS1 PRODUCT FEATURES Steep Slope Photo Degradable Degradable Tread Single Net EastCoastErosionControl · 443BrickerRoad · Bernville,PA19506 · 610.488.8496 · www.EastCoastErosion.com