Road Construction

Road Construction ~ within the context of building operations roadworks usually consist of the construction of small estate roads, access roads and driveways together with temporary roads laid to define site circulation routes and/or provide a suitable surface for plant movements. The construction of roads can be considered under three headings:-

1. Setting out.
2. Earthworks.
3. Paving Construction.

Setting Out Roads ~ this activity is usually carried out after the topsoil has been removed using the dimensions given on the layout drawing(s). The layout could include straight lengths junctions, hammer heads, turning bays and intersecting curves.

Straight Road Lengths † these are usually set out from centre lines which have been established by traditional means

Earthworks ~ this will involve the removal of topsoil together with any vegetation, scraping and grading the required area down to formation level plus the formation of any cuttings or embankments. Suitable plant for these operations would be tractor shovels fitted with a 4 in 1 bucket: graders and bulldozers. The soil immediately below the formation level is called the subgrade whose strength will generally decrease as its moisture content rises therefore if it is to be left exposed for any length of time protection may be required. Subgrade protection may take the form of a covering of medium gauge plastic sheeting with 300mm laps or alternatively a covering of sprayed bituminous binder with a sand topping applied at a rate of 1 litre per m2. To preserve the strength and durability of the subgrade it may be necessary to install cut off subsoil drains alongside the proposed road.

Paving Construction ~ once the subgrade has been prepared and any drainage or other buried services installed the construction of the paving can be undertaken. Paved surfaces can be either flexible or rigid in format. Flexible or bound surfaces are formed of materials applied in layers directly over the subgrade whereas rigid pavings consist of a concrete slab resting on a granular base.

Rigid Pavings ~ these consist of a reinforced or unreinforced in-situ concrete slab laid over a base course of crushed stone or similar material which has been blinded to receive a polythene sheet slip membrane. The primary objective of this membrane is to prevent grout loss from the in-situ slab.

Joints in Rigid Pavings ~ longitudinal and transverse joints are required in rigid pavings to:-

1 . Limit size of slab.
2. Limit stresses due to subgrade restraint.
3. Provide for expansion and contraction movements.

The main joints used are classified as expansion, contraction or longitudinal, the latter being the same in detail as the contraction joint differing only in direction. The spacing of road joints is determined by:-

1 . Slab thickness.
2. Whether slab is reinforced or unreinforced.
3. Anticipated traffic load and flow rate.
4. Temperature at which concrete is laid