Hayward Baker Breaks Ground on K-10 South Lawrence Trafficway Ground Improvement Project Sponsored

Hayward Baker has recently started a significant ground improvement project in the K-10 South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT), providing its expertise in the specific project,which is a top priority for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The project involves the combined use of wick drains and stone columns for the acceleration of consolidation and the stabilization of specific embankment areas. 

K-10 South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT) Project, in Lawrence Kansas, is considered a major transportation infrastructure for the state, with mitigation agreements between DOT, local government agencies and the public including the creation and restoration of 317 acres of wetlands, as well as the restoration, preservation and creation of 50 acres of habitats. Relocation of local roads to divert noise and light, construction of a new education center campground and of biking and hiking paths are also included in the agreement. 

The $9.1 million ground improvement contract undertaken by Hayward Baker, acting as a subcontractor to Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., includes slope stability and stabilization works in several sites with poor soil conditions. Namely, in situ and laboratory tests indicated that soil conditions include soft and compressible alluvial, residual silt, clay and sand layers, leading to excessive settlements and slope stability issues in many of the embankments. Hayward Baker's proposed solution involves the installation of wick drains and construction of 6,800 thirty-six-inch diameter stone columns, to depths of about 62ft. Construction of stone columns is expected to use over 150,000 tons of aggregate and is scheduled to take seven months to complete.

HB Wick Drains, a HB's subsidiary, also plans the installation of approximately 42,000 wick drains to a maximum depth of 75ft to accelerate soil consolidation to 26 embankment sites, where consolidation periods exceeded a decade based on the executed subsurface explorations. Wick drain installation is scheduled to last 20 weeks (non-consecutive) and expected to downsize the required consolidation time to less than 45 days.

For more information on the K-10 South Lawrence Trafficway project in Lawrence, and the ground improvement capabilities and services provided by Hayward Baker and HB Wick Drains, contact Kent Abella at 913-390-0085 or [email protected].

Source: Hayward Baker