SAWDUST EMBANKMENT

This article describes the reconstruction efforts on a highway as a result of embankment slides. In the reconstruction, fill was placed over the old roadbed and widening was done on both sides. The first step taken toward repair was to intercept seepage on the upper side of the road. A trench for an 18 inch pipe was excavated into solid shale. The pipe flowed for several weeks after it was installed. The pipe still carries a substantial flow during periods of heavy rainfall. It was decided to use sawdust as an embankment material because of favorable results elsewhere and because it was less expensive than other alternatives. All of the loose material from the slide was pushed downhill and leveled to form a bench or base for the new enbankment. A four foot lift of pit gravel was placed on top of the sawdust, and the slope was platted with a few inches of the same material. Approximate measures of embankment material used and cost is included. The sawdust embankment has been in place for eight months, and there is no noticeable settlement. Plans are now being made to use sawdust embankments in other slide-prone areas.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Robinson, J R
• Publication Date: 1976-10

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 106-112
• Serial:
  • Highway Focus
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Embankments; Flow; Gravel; Ground settlement; Moisture content; Rainfall; Road construction; Sawdust; Seepage; Slope stability; Streamflow; Water
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167456
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 16 1978 12:00AM