Great yarmouth by-pass - earthworks and pavement design : Boyce, J C Highways TranspV33, N1, Jan 1986, P3–8

Abstract

The paper outlines the geological conditions, the design concept which evolved from the combination of geological conditions and the stated requirements of the client; construction of a trial embankment to confirm design parameters; and the special measures which were incorporated in the contract to allow construction to be controlled. The design which evolved and which was partially tested in the trial embankment brought together a number of techniques: the use of wick drains, geomesh reinforcing layers and a geomesh enclosed drainage blanket, surcharging of embankments, and, as a final measure to minimise the appearance of differential settlement at the road surface, continuously reinforced concrete road base. The embankments are heavily instrumented with settlement gauges, inclinometers and piezometers. Monitoring of the instruments was considered to be such a vital element in the control of construction that they were directly read onto magnetic tape which was then analysed on computer in the site office. This permitted the recording and analysis of results to be brought within an acceptable time scale and ensured adequate control of the operations on site. The paper includes comments on the performance of the construction to date, although the final assessment must of necessity wait until the road has been open to traffic for several years. (Author/TRRL)