11/10/2020 METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION – HIGHWAY GUIDE

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METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION

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Subgrade is the main part of the any  earth work .They are widely used in  road, railway and airport runway construction
but here we will discuss sequence wise working methodology for the earthwork in subgrade for any highway work. 

1. Scope of Work
2. Reference Documents.
3. Setting Out.
4. Selection of Material & Borrow areas.
5. Equipments.
6. Methods of Operation.
7. Quality Control.
8. Work Safety
9. Environmental Safety

 1.0 Scope of Work:-

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11/10/2020 METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION – HIGHWAY GUIDE

The work shall consist of Construction of Sub-grade with approved and speci ed materials obtained from approved
borrow areas or suitable material obtained from roadway excavation and drain excavation and in accordance with clause
305 of MORT&H speci cation.

2.0 Reference: –

Reference Documents:-

1. Ministry of Road Transport & Highway Speci cations.     

3.0 Setting Out: –

After completion of site clearance/embankment the limits of sub-grade shall be marked by xing pegs on both sides at
regular intervals. The chainage boards and working bench mark shall be set outside the limits of construction areas.

4.0 Selection of Material and Borrow areas: –

4.1 Material:                              

The material used in Sub-grade shall be soil, moorum, gravel, a mixture of these or any other material approved by the
Engineer. It shall be free from logs, stumps, roots, rubbish & any other material detrimental to the stability of structure.
The material for sub-grade shall be obtained from the approved source with preference to the material becoming available
from nearby roadway excavation or any other excavation under the contract. The material requirements shall be in
accordance with clause 305.2 of MORT&H.

4.2 Borrow Material:

Samples should be taken from the known borrow area & to be tested as per IS 2720 for the suitability in use in embankment
as per project speci cation. On con rmation of the suitability material the area shall be properly demarcated and satisfy
the clause 305.2.2.2 or project speci cation

5.0 Equipments: –

The following equipments shall be carried out for the Sub-grade Construction. If desired the contractor shall demonstrate
the e cacy of the type of equipment to be used, before commencement of work.

1. Hydraulic Excavator
2. Dozer
3. Dumper (Tipper Trucks)
4. Motor Grader
5. Vibratory Roller
6. Water Tanker
7. Tractor Trolleys
8. Survey Kit

6.0 Method of Operation: –

After completion of embankment, the limits of sub-grade shall be marked by xing pegs at regular intervals   before
commencing the earthwork. Construction toe line shall be more than the design toe line for proper construction of the
edges.

The Embankment top shall be levelled to facilitate placement of rst layer of Sub-grade, scari ed, mixed with water and
then compacted by rolling so as to achieve minimum dry density as speci ed in the modi ed Technical speci cation.
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11/10/2020 METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION – HIGHWAY GUIDE

Sub-grade treatment speci ed for Sub-grade shall be carried out as per approved drawing. Unsuitable material
occurring in sub-grade foundation shall be removed as per direction and approval of the Engineer and replaced by
approved materials laid in layers and suitably compacted to the required and speci ed degree of compaction. Excavation
at approved borrow areas shall be carried out with excavator and transportation of excavated material shall be done by
dumpers/ tractor trolley.
Maximum Dry density of borrow area soil shall be determined, and the soil shall be tested for dry density, if found less
than 97% of M.D.D., the layer shall be scari ed mixed with required quantity of water and compacted with soil vibratory
roller to achieve minimum required speci ed dry density.
For construction adjacent to the existing embankment a continued, horizontal benching 300 mm wide or as per drawing
shall be provided in the existing embankment.
The sub-grade material shall then be spread in layers not exceeding 250 mm compacted thicknesses or as per direction
of the Engineer over the entire area with the dozer and nished by a motor grader. When the existing embankment to be
widened continuous horizontal benches shall be cut out into the old slope to ensure adequate bond. Where water is
required to be added the same shall be sprinkled from a water tanker tted with sprinkler, uniformly on the surface but
without ooding and shall be mixed thoroughly in soil by blending or harrowing until uniform moisture content is
obtained throughout the depth of the layer. If the material delivered to the roadbed is too wet, it shall be dried by
aeration and exposure to the sun till the moisture content is accepted for compaction.
The compaction shall be done with the help of Vibratory Roller of 8 – 10 Ton static weight with plain or pad foot drum or
heavy pneumatic tyred roller of adequate capacity capable to achieve required compaction. Compaction trial shall be
carried out on a suitable stretch to determine the no. of passes required for particular type of soil, dumped for sub-
grade, to achieve densities speci ed in the table 300-2 of the Technical speci cation. Based on the trial actual
compaction will be carried out with required no. of passes of Vibratory Roller until the speci ed density is achieved.
Rolling shall progress parallel to the centerline of the road uniformly overlapping each preceding track by one-third
width. Rolling shall be continued till the speci ed density is achieved as per table 300-2. In case speci c compaction is
not achieved the material in the soft area shall be removed and replaced with approved material. Densities shall be
tested by sand replacement method / nuclear density gauge.
Subsequent layers shall be placed only after the nished layer has been tested as per the clause 903.2.2 and accepted.
The top levels of the sub-grade shall be checked with reference to the longitudinal and cross pro le of the road as per
drawing to keep the variation within tolerance limit as per table 900-1. or as per standard speci cation.

7.0 Quality Control:-

Minimum compaction for sub-grade layers is 97% of modi ed proctor value of project speci cation.

8.0    Work Safety:-                   

8.1  During construction of widening works, adequate safety and tra c signs shall be installed adjacent to the road
shoulders to protect the ongoing works as per location speci c safety plan.

8.2  For locations where the dumping of embankment  materials by tippers are performed from the road shoulder, a
minimum of 2 agmen with re ective vests and holding a red  ag each be deployed to control the tra c which may be
a ected by the  unloading operation.

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11/10/2020 METHODOLOGY FOR SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION – HIGHWAY GUIDE

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8.3  All locations adjacent to existing road where embankment construction is in progress shall be provided with safety and
road signs.

8.4  No machines or equipment’s shall be permitted to remain on the existing road or shoulder unattended at all times
unless it is properly protected and secured in a safe manner.              

8.5  The Safety O cer shall make frequent patrols along the highway to ensure that the safety equipment and signs are
operational at all time.

8.6  Trucks sometimes fall over a tip head because the driver backs over the edge or the edge collapses under the weight of
the truck. A protective berm or timber baulk should be used. Alternatively,   a signalman should be deployed in order to
avoid this possibility.

Replay

8.7  When excavating trenches, place the excavated material at least 600 mm clear of the edge, where there is no danger of
it falling back into or collapsing the side of the trench.

9.Environmental Safety: –

a.Nearby streams, water courses, lakes, reservoir shall be protected from contamination by the soil erosion from areas
exposed during excavation by constructing temporary berms, dykes, sediment Basins, slopes, drains & by the use of
temporary mulches, seeding or other control devices.

b.Vehicles tracks shall be kept moist to prevent ying of dust particles with the vehicle movement.

HIGHWAY GUIDE / October 24, 2019 / Highway Construction

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