CASE STUDY
EX-SITU SOIL STABILISATION FOR A TEMPORARYHAUL ROAD
MIDDLEWICH, 2011
CLIENT: E.ON UK AND JACOBS ENGINEERING
Industry: Civils
For civils industries, we offer a permanent and temporary Soil Stabilisation solution, for projects where large areas of ground material needs treatment, whithout having to remove material from site.
Application: Ex-situ
Our ex-situ application is for large, open projects where there is an on-goingrequirement for stabilisation, or sub-base material in large quantities and thereis space for the stockpiling of spoil material onsite.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This case study highlights the successful Ex-situ application of SMR for the construction of atemporary haul road at the Holford Gas Storage Project in Middlewich for E.ON UK and Jacobs Engineering. Overcoming challenging ground conditions, environmental considerations, and budget constraints, the project demonstrated the effectiveness of SMR in delivering a cost-effective and ecologically compliant solution.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The project required a temporary haul road that could support heavy vehicles and equipmentin the challenging environment of the brine fields. The existing ground consisted of thick clayand slurry with poor drainage and was situated atop layers of salt and minerals from ancientoceans. The challenge involved finding a solution that was both budget-friendly andenvironmentally sustainable, while ensuring minimal disruption to local residents andprotected species. The area is a habitat to many protected species including the Great CrestedNewt, so it was paramount that all works could easily accommodate the necessary measuresto prevent disruption or contamination of any ponds onsite.
THE SMR SOLUTION
Recycling Aggregates Northwest (RAN) was chosen for its mobile recycling facilities and SMRwas chosen to provide a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. The existing clay wasexcavated, treated with SMR, and compacted in two layers to construct a solid temporaryroad. To construct the temporary haul road, the existing clay was levelled off and excavated500mm to the formation level. The clay was then treated with SMR binder, relayed andcompacted in two layers of 250mm (500mm in total). This approach reduced the need forimporting materials, minimized environmental impact, and provided the required road accessin a short timeframe.
RESULTS
The results were astonishing considering the original ground conditions where very poor. Thecompleted road successfully withstood heavy vehicle traffic and remained largelyundamaged, despite challenging ground conditions. The innovative use of existing materialsand SMR showcased the effectiveness of the solution, meeting project requirements efficiently.
BENEFITS
Cost-Effectiveness: The use of existing materials and the SMR-based approach provided acost-effective solution compared to other alternatives.
Speed of Deployment: Leveraging on-site resources and avoiding additional materialtransportation ensured rapid road construction within the project’s budget.
Material Efficiency: The temporary road was constructed solely from existing clay, slurry, andSMR, eliminating the need for additional materials.
Ecological Compliance: The application of SMR-based sub-base contributed to protecting thelocal environment, especially considering the waterlogged surrounding land.
CONCLUSION
The Middlewich haul road project exemplifies the successful implementation of Ex-SituStabilisation using SMR, overcoming site-specific challenges, and delivering a temporary roadsolution that balances cost-effectiveness, speed, and ecological compliance.
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