Riprap & Concrete Mat Installation for Bridges & Roads

Preventing Costly Infrastructure Failures

Each year, local news stations across the country broadcast the same scenes: emergency crews blocking traffic at undermined bridge approaches, repair equipment rushing to failed embankments after spring rains, and frustrated commuters facing detours around washed-out roadways.  Flooded, eroded throughways are dangerous, costly, and often avoidable. The next step is usually a search for someone to blame.

While no one can stop the seasons, it is possible to reinforce bridges and roads with effective erosion control systems.

Proper erosion control can extend infrastructure life by 15-20 years, help prevent emergency repairs costing $100,000+, and protect water quality through natural filtration.

Reinforcing Bridges and Roads with Riprap or Concrete Mats

We can install two proven solutions for protecting critical infrastructure against water damage and erosion. Each system has advantages for different situations and environments.

Riprap

We use specially sourced stone (6-18 inches) to create an armored layer that breaks up water’s erosive force. Each stone is carefully placed on specialized filter fabric, creating an engineered 3:1 slope that prevents concentrated water flow and scour damage.

Riprap withstands water velocities up to 15 feet per second, making it great for bridge abutment protection and slope stabilization in high-stress areas, like steep embankments. Our installation process includes careful subsurface preparation and drainage planning to maximize the system’s effectiveness. The natural appearance of riprap often makes it the preferred choice for irregularly shaped or environmentally sensitive areas.

Concrete Mats

Where water flow threatens to undercut roads or bridge approaches, our concrete mat systems give immediate protection that grows stronger over time.

These sheets of interconnected concrete blocks roll out like heavily weighted blankets, protecting against erosive forces. As vegetation grows between the blocks, root systems form a natural anchor that further stabilizes the area. The resulting surface easily supports maintenance vehicles while preventing the soil loss that often leads to expensive emergency repairs.

Both riprap and concrete mats work by dispersing water’s energy before it can concentrate into destructive force, to turn potential crisis points into stable, maintainable infrastructure. Riprap has a classic upscale look and can be fitted precisely into unusual shapes where needed. Concrete mats are more efficient at covering large surface areas. 

Environmental Benefits of Riprap and Concrete Mats 

• Natural filtration of road salt, automotive fluids, and sediment helps meet MS4 permit requirements.
• These systems reduce peak stormwater flow by up to 30%, preventing downstream erosion.
• Native vegetation naturally grows in concrete mats, strengthening them over time and creating micro habitats.
• Permeable surfaces allow up to 70% of rainfall to recharge groundwater, meeting green infrastructure requirements.
• These systems reduce sediment transport to nearby waterways, protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Projects often qualify for EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 grants and state stormwater management funding programs.