ABSTRACT
A section of the high speed North-South Expressway in Malaysia serving an additional function of a flood control bund was built over very soft alluvial clay. Ground improvement using enhanced deep drainage and massive surcharge was employed to induce more than 2 meters settlement of the embankment prior to completion of construction over a period of 18 months. At its highest profile of 4.5 meters above the surrounding ground, the embankment was built to a maximum thickness of 8.3 meters. A background to the engineering design and construction is provided and the philosophy behind the technique for assessing the adequacy of consolidation is presented.
After more than 8 years of service, the efficacy of its ground engineering is reviewed from the maintenance/operation history as well as riding characteristics especially at its junction to an adjacent rigid pile-supported bridge approach section; customarily a detail that generates a most difficult interfacing problem.
