GEOLOGICAL AND GEOTECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME SECTIONS OF THE M25 CONSTRUCTION

The author summarises papers presented at a January 1984 joint meeting of the engineering group and the Institution of Highway Engineers in London. When complete the 120 mile long M25 will be the largest orbital road in the world and will accommodate up to 80000 vehicles per 16 hour day in some sections. Properties of the very heavily overconsolidated gault clay in Kent were discussed and the need for the construction of trial embankments and cuttings was explained. Three separate earthwork operations were used to illustrate how different features influence plant selection; the type of compaction equipment chosen was often related to the type of earthmoving plant used. Conditions on the most intensive structural sections are described. The works included over 500 m of open and retained cuttings and a cut and cover tunnel. Examples are given of problems encountered in the construction over water filled and back filled gravel pits where severe planning restraints exist. Some aspects of research, design and construction of the 475 m long cut-and-cover Bell Common tunnel are discussed. The construction, using a 20 m deep secant pile wall and a simply supported roof slab has been extensively monitored to provide an insight into the response of the wall and soil.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/04812085
• Corporate Authors:

  GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  W1V 0JU
• Authors:
  • Newman, R L
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 149-160
• Serial:
  • QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 0481-2085

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beltways; Clay; Compaction; Construction equipment; Cut and cover tunneling; Cutting (Earthwork); Earthwork; Embankments; Freeways; Geology; Geotechnical engineering; Overconsolidation; Retaining walls; Road construction
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 4177: Clay; 3686: Compaction; 3395: Cut and cover; 2812: Cutting (earthworks); 3653: Earthworks; 2801: Embankment; 4053: Geology; 2752: Motorway; 3359: Retaining wall; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452759
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM