Engineering Design, Supervision and Contract Administration of Dawo Wereda URRAP Road Projects

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................2

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................2

1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE REPORT...................................................................................................2

1.3 GEOLOGY OF THE PROJECT ROAD CORRIDOR.......................................................................................3

2. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS................................................................................................................3

2.1 GENERAL...............................................................................................................................................3

2.2 SUBGRADE SOIL INVESTGATION............................................................................................................3

2.2.1 Visual Subgrade Soil Extension Survey.......................................................................................3

2.2.2 Test pitting and Subgrade Soil Sampling.....................................................................................5

2.3 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SURVEY....................................................................................................5

3. LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS..................................7

3.1 GENERAL...............................................................................................................................................7

3.2 SUBGRADE MATERIAL TEST RESULTS AND ANALYSIS..........................................................................7

3.2.1 Soil Classification Tests................................................................................................................8

3.2.2 Test result Analysis.......................................................................................................................9

4. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS....................................................................................................11

4.1 GENERAL.............................................................................................................................................11

5. CONCLUSIONS AND REC0MMENDATIONS...............................................................................11

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 Engineering Design, Supervision and Contract Administration of Dawo Wereda URRAP Road Projects
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

To connect all Gandas (Kebeles) to Weredas (Aanaa) by constructing roads that provides year round
access to meet the needs of the rural communities is the objective of Universal Rural Roads Access
Programme (URRAP). To meet this objective, the Oromia Roads Authority (ORA) has planned
construction of new all weathered roads and upgrading of existing access roads to all weather
standard roads. Oromia Roads Authority (ORA) signed a contract agreement with YTG Consulting
Engineers Plc (the Consultant) on the 31 th day of October 2011 for the engineering design,
supervision and contract administration for Dawo Ana (Wereda) URRAP Road projects.

The proposed project consists of design and construction of new standard roads that will connect the
Dawo Aanaa (Wereda) towns to Gandas (Kebeles) and upgrading of existing roads with a total
length of approximately 49km.

This soils and materials report is a part of the engineering design task that aims to provide a factual
report regarding the field and laboratory investigation carried out on the subgrade soils, the available
construction materials and deals with geology and climate of the project area.

1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE REPORT

This soils and materials report contains the method and analysis of the field and laboratory
investigations made on the subgrade soil and construction materials. This soils and materials report
is prepared based on the field investigation and laboratory testing as well as thorough field visual
observations. Finally, the report summarizes the findings with the interpretations and
recommendations about the suitability of subgrade and construction material for the various
purposes in the pavement structures.

The scope of the investigations includes:

 Conduct soil survey and detailed investigation of the subgrade soil

 Identification of construction material that includes borrow areas, quarry sites, sand and
water sources
 Conducting laboratory testing on selected soil and construction materials

1.3 GEOLOGY OF THE PROJECT ROAD CORRIDOR

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 Engineering Design, Supervision and Contract Administration of Dawo Wereda URRAP Road Projects
According to the national geological map (V.Kazmin, 1973), most of the study area is underlain by
Tertiary intrusive rocks of the Magdala Group, while the hills marking the northern and western
boundary of the catchments are underlain by older rocks of the Trap Series. The interest area is flat
to rolling covered by thick alluvial soil (Black Cotton soil ) and light brown residual soils and scoria
hills.

2. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

2.1 GENERAL

A comprehensive and detail field investigation work was carried out along the entire project length of each
project roads in the wereda. The field investigation work carried out to study the subgrade soil and
identification of possible construction material sources.

The field work was carried out as part of the detailed field investigation that are comprised the following
activities

 Subgrade soil investigation

 Identification and location of construction materials
 Identification of potentially problematic sections of the project route, This includes geological
structures, problematic subgrade soils like potentially expansive soils and organic soils, etc
 Taking representative samples for subgrade and construction material for laboratory testing.

2.2 SUBGRADE SOIL INVESTGATION

During the field investigation, visual subgrade extension survey, test pitting and collecting of representative
soil samples were carried out.

2.2.1 VISUAL SUBGRADE SOIL EXTENSION SURVEY

Before commencing the subgrade soil survey, a visual survey of the subgrade soil extension carried out to
determine the extent of the different subgrade materials that made up the route corridors of every project roads.
The details of visual subgrade soil extensions for each project roads presented in the table below .

Table 1: Visual subgrade soil extensions

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 Engineering Design, Supervision and Contract Administration of Dawo Wereda URRAP Road Projects

Station
Project Name Material Description
From To

Black to dark gray, high plastic silty CLAY

Bussa – Jidu Kao 0+000 12+770
(Black Cotton soil)

Black, high plastic silty CLAY (Black

0+000 8+000 Cotton soil) with some cobbles and boulders
on the surface

Reddish brown, dense, silty sandy

8+000 8+480
GRAVEL (cinder gravel)

Basaltic boulders and gravels mixed with

8+480 8+900
some Black Cotton soil

Bussa – Dawo Karra Light gray to dark gray, high plastic silty
8+900 10+600
CLAY.

Reddish brown, stiff, low plastic clayey

10+700 12+200
SILT

Light gray to dark gray, high plastic silty

12+200 13+150
CLAY

Reddish brown, stiff, low plastic clayey

13+150 18+900
SILT

Black, high plastic silty CLAY (Black

Bussa/Sedere – Balchi
0+000 7+900 Cotton soil) with short stretches that have
Kenchera
basaltic cobbles and boulders

Black, high plastic silty CLAY (Black

Bussa – Keressa (Upgrading) 0+000 9+000
Cotton soil) with very few basaltic boulders

As shown in the above table, all the stretches of the project roads located in flat terrains and in some
portions of the rolling terrains are characterized with highly plastic and expansive clay soil (Black
‘Cotton’ soil).

2.2.2 TEST PITTING AND SUBGRADE SOIL SAMPLING

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 Engineering Design, Supervision and Contract Administration of Dawo Wereda URRAP Road Projects
To examine the soil in the project roads, test pits were excavated on representative stretches to
collect disturbed soil samples for classification tests and CBR tests.

Test pits were dug to a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 m from the natural ground level. The soil horizon has been
recorded for the different soil types in each of the test pits. Sufficient quantity of representative
samples for Gradation, PI, MDD-OMC relations, and CBR tests have been collected and transported
to ETG Consulting Engineers central laboratory, in Addis Ababa. Representative samples have been
collected from the full depth of the test pits in which the vertical soil profile exhibits a reasonable
degree of uniformity.

Upon completion of the sampling processes, the excavated material was carefully replaced and
compacted to rehabilitate the road surface back to its original condition. The graphic test pit log and
descriptions of the materials for each test pits are presented in the Annex –A.

2.3 CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SURVEY

The exploration and investigation of road construction material near the project area is an important
aspect in the economical design and construction of road project. The cost and type of construction
largely depends on the quality and quantity of material available around the project area.

Prior to conducting the materials investigation, a desktop study had been made within the project
vicinity to identify the potential material sources. Hence, the geological formation of the area and
previous available reports pertinent to the project road and other nearby roads had been reviewed.
Following the desktop study, potential sources for borrow and natural gravel pits, quarry sources for
crushed aggregates, sand and water sources was thoroughly assessed during the field investigation

The following factors are taken into consideration while locating the construction material sources:

- Proximity to the alignment

- Sufficiency in quantity and suitability in quality
- Overburden thickness
- Ease of exploitation
- Impact on the environment and local settlement

The availability and the quality of the construction materials generally depend on the geological
formations of the project route corridor.

According to the Geological Map of Ethiopia and field observation, most of the project route
corridor covered dominantly with expansive silty clay soil.

From the reconnaissance site visit and office desk study, natural gravels and borrow for possible
applications of gravel wearing course and embankment construction are available along the Bussa –
Dawo Karra Road project and at about 5 to 7km away from the start of the remaining project roads.

Jelewan, Alito and Chele Rivers can be used for construction of all the project roads in the wereda.
These considered as potential water sources for earth works and concrete works. Source for sand is
available in in Jelewan River along Bussa – Jidu Kao project. The locations of possible borrow pits

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of possible suitable construction material identified during the field reconnaissance are summarized
below.

Table2: Summary of Locations of Construction Materials Sources

Borrow source

Distance from
Location and Offset Description Remark
Project roads

km8+200 along Bussa – Cinder gravel Natural gravel

-
Dawo Karra road (Scoria) source

7km from Bussa on the way

Cinder gravel Natural gravel
8 - 10km to Boda, 20m RHS of the
(Scoria) source
road

12km from Bussa on the Natural gravel

Moderately to highly
12 – 16km way to Tulu Bolo, 50m source (scarce
weathered Basalt
LHS of the road amount)

3km from Tulu Bolo on the Cinder gravel Natural gravel

15 – 19km
way to Chulule, 300mRHS (Scoria) source

Quarry Rock

Distance from Location and Description Remark

Project roads Offset

10km from Tulu

24 - 26km Bolo on the way Ignimbrite Rock Masonry source
to Chulule

In the outskirt of
14 – 17km Basalt For concrete works
Tulu Bolo Town

Water sourcE

Name of
Station Type Remark
River

Jelewan 0+700 Perennial Stations along Bussa – Jidu Kao

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project and Jelewan flows close

Alito 12+000 Perennial
to the alignment

For Bussa – Dawo Karra Road

Jelewan South outskirt of Bussa Perennial
project

Northwestern outskirt of For Bussa – Balchi Kenchera and

Chele Perennial
Bussa Bussa - Kersa road projects

3. LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

3.1 GENERAL

The laboratory investigation works encompasses the testing and analysis of samples of the subgrade
soils. The purpose of the testing is to evaluate the strength and the suitability of the road subgrade
soil. This is done by assessment of the test results against the recommended specification
requirement.

3.2 SUBGRADE MATERIAL TEST RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

The samples collected during the field investigation have been brought to ETG consulting Engineers
Plc Laboratory Center, for a detailed laboratory investigation. The types of tests conducted in the
sampled subgrade soils include;

 Grading to sieve 0.075mm (wet sieve)(AASHTO T-88)

 Liquid limit and plastic Limit ( AASHTO T -89 T-90)
 Moisture Density Relationship, at standard proctor density (AASHTO T-180)
 CBR and Swell test ( AASHTO T- 193)

Details of the Laboratory test results carried on subgrade soils is presented in Annex B of the report.

3.2.1 SOIL CLASSIFICATION TESTS

The tests conducted for AASHTO classifications were liquid limit, plastic limit and wet sieve
analysis. These tests are indicators of the physical properties of subgrade soils and borrow materials.
They are usually done at short intervals in comparison to strength tests. The purpose of soil

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classification in road construction is to confirm the suitability of the soil as a road bed and as
construction material.

3.2.1.1 MOISTURE-DENSITY RELATIONSHIP

The subgrade soils were tested to determine the maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum
moisture content (OMC) in the laboratory in accordance with AASHTO T-180. The moisture-
density curve is different for each soil type; granular, well-graded soils generally have high
maximum densities at low optimum moisture contents, while clay soils have lower densities. The
natural bonds between clay particles resist comparative efforts to force them into a denser structure.
Whereas, well-graded granular soils have spaces between large particles that are field with smaller
particles when compacted that lead to a higher density than uniform soils. The moisture-density
curve, generally help the designer to understand the nature of the subgrade soil materials and based
on the test results it is possible to choose the design moisture content and level of compaction to be
attained.

3.2.1.1 STRENGTH TEST

The subgrade soil strength has been used for design purpose by interpolating the California bearing
Ratio (CBR) values at a specified compaction level on a soaked soils.

Four days soaked CBR/swell tests were conducted on subgrade samples collected from the route
corridor to determine the strength and swelling properties of the soil. The method of testing followed
for the subgrade soils was AASHTO – T193.

3.2.2 TEST RESULT ANALYSIS

Laboratory investigation works on the subgrade samples comprised of various classification and
strength tests. This will enable the pavement designer to get full information about the subgrade soil
property and response to the environment and loading condition. After interpreting test results, the
pavement engineer can design the required pavement thickness and propose appropriate measures to
take effect on road sections characterized by unsuitable as a roadbed.

Summary of test results are shown in Annex-B of this report. The test result analysis are presented
below.

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3.2.2.1 CLASSIFICATION TESTS

The tests conducted for AASHTO soil classifications were the liquid limit, plastic limit and wet
sieve analysis. These tests are indicators of the physical properties of the subgrade soils.

The following figures indicate the distribution of subgrade soil classes along the project road.

From the results of classification on the expansive and high plastic soils along the road projects, the
entire subgrade soils of the Bussa – Jidu Kao road and some stretches of Bussa – Dawo Karra road
projects are classified as high plastic clayey SILT soil A-7-5 (11) to A-7-5(20). The reddish brown,
low plastic soil is classified as A-6(9) to A-7-5(9).

3.2.2.2 PLASTICITY INDEX

The plasticity index, the difference of the liquid limit and the plastic limit, is an important index of
soil. It is one of the important parameters used in the classification of soils and also an indicator of
whether the soil is expansive or not. Plasticity index is also used as an input in the extended
investigation of unsuitable soils to determine the expansiveness of the subgrade soil.

Form the Atterberg limit tests conducted on the expansive soil layer, the plasticity index (PI) varies
from 23 to 41 and the liquid limit (LL) values vary from 73 to 86%. The CBR percent swell also
varies from 7.71 to 8.25%. Tests on the reddish brown soil shows that the plasticity index (PI) varies
from 13 to 14 and the liquid limit (LL) values vary from 37 to 41%. The CBR percent swell also
varies from 0.63 to 0.76%.

3.2.2.3 MOISTURE/DENSITY RELATIONSHIP

In order to determine the degree of compaction and percentage of moisture content of the subgrade
materials, the Dry Density was obtained in the laboratory by using the standard compaction method
as per AASHTO T-180.

The Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) of the expansive subgrade soil ranges from 38% to 41%,
whereas the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) ranges from 1.2 g/cc to 1.25g/cc. The OMC of the low
plastic subgrade soil ranges from 23% to 25%, whereas the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) ranges
from 1.54g/cc to 1.59g/cc.

3.2.2.4 STRENGTH TESTING

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The CBR values at 95% of the Modified AASHTO Density interpolated from the CBR at densities
obtained by compacting each layer in the mould at 56 blows. Those subgrade soils with CBR value
greater or equal to 3 and CBR Swell <2% are rated as good roadbed material. Subgrade soils with
CBR value less than 3 or CBR Swell value greater than 2% shall be replaced with improved
subgrade of CBR >3 and CBR Swell <2%. The CBR value of the expansive subgrade soil varies
from 1 to 3, whereas CBR value of the reddish brown, low plastic subgrade soil varies from 5 to 11.

Table 3: Summary Laboratory Test Result of subgrade soils

Chainage (km) AASHTO PI MDD OMC Swell

Project CBR
and offset Classification (%) (g/cc) (%) (%)

1+000, CL A-7-5(20) 33 1.22 38 1 7.71

Bussa – Dawo Karra 2+000, CL A-7-5(20) 41 1.20 38 1 8.25

10+700, CL A-6(9) 14 1.59 23 11 0.60
16+100, CL A-7-5(9) 13 1.54 25 5 0.76

Bussa – Jidu Kao 1+000, CL A-7-5(11) 38 1.25 41 3 8.03

3+000, CL A-7-5(18) 23 1.21 36 1 8.08

4. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

4.1 GENERAL

The route corridors of most of the project roads and some stretches of Bussa – Dawo Karra are
completely covered and composed of the highly plastic clayey SILT soil (Black Cotton soil). Some
stretches the Bussa – Dawo Karra road project contains low plastic clayey SILT and cinder gravel.

Available sources of construction materials were identified and investigated as shown in the above
table (table 2).

5. CONCLUSIONS AND REC0MMENDATIONS

Expansive subgrade soils of the project roads exhibit high plasticity with CBR value varying from 1
to 3 and swell value varying from 7.71 to 8.25%. In general subgrade soils with CBR < 3 and Swell
>2% shall be excavated to a depth of 40cm and replaced with improved subgrade material of CBR>3
and Swell<2%.

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However, subgrade section in Bussa – Dawo Karra road project, that is characterized with reddish
brown, low plastic clayey SILT soil, have CBR values varying from 5 to 11 and swell value varying
from 0.6 to 0.76%.

Possible sources of construction materials have been identified, located, and only one source is
sampled and tested for relevant quality tests.

Borrow materials for embankment, replacement of unsuitable soils and capping layer construction;
natural gravel source, quarry sources for concrete aggregate and masonry works are available 0 to
19km away from the start of project roads.

Detail tests will be conducted on the construction materials, if considered necessary by the
consultant, during the construction period and further investigations are needed to be carried out by
the Contractor during Construction stage to locate suitable construction materials.

ANNEX – A
LOGS OF TEST PITS

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ANNEX – B
LABORATORY TEST RESULTS
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ANNEX – C
LOCATION OF CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS

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