Swiss Steel Group's Top12 anchors support Lake Lucerne road project

Swiss Steel Group's corrosion-resistant Top12 stainless reinforcing steel has been used to secure a newly modernized section of the K2b cantonal road between Vitznau and Gersau above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.

More than 100 prestressed Top12 anchors were drilled several meters into the steep rock face to stabilize retaining walls and support a 350-meter-long cantilevered road structure overlooking the lake. The renovation project, which included widening the roadway and pedestrian walkway, was completed in early 2026 and is designed for a service life of 100 years.

Stainless anchors for demanding geotechnical applications

Top12 is a high-alloy stainless reinforcing steel developed by Steeltec, a company within Swiss Steel Group. Manufactured at Steeltec's Emmenbrücke facility, the material contains at least 12% chromium and offers significantly higher corrosion resistance than conventional reinforcing steels.

According to Swiss Steel Group, the geotechnical variant of Top12 provides increased strength, allowing anchor systems to be designed with reduced weight and smaller dimensions, which can simplify transport, handling and installation in challenging terrain.

For the K2b project, permanent anchoring was achieved using Stahlton AG's "Spanntop" Protection Level 2b anchoring system with Top12 serving as the stainless steel tension member. Additional temporary anchors were installed to support construction platforms and equipment during the two-year construction period.

More than 1,500 projects completed

Swiss Steel Group says Top12 has been used in more than 1,500 infrastructure projects over the past two decades. Typical applications include road and tunnel construction, retaining walls, bridge foundations and rock stabilization systems in exposed environments.

The company notes that the material's corrosion resistance and reduced concrete cover requirements can contribute to lower lifecycle costs and extended service life for infrastructure assets.

Source and Photo: Swiss Steel Group