Core Consulting Engineers Adishehu-dela-samre design Build Road Project

Item Reference /Page Comments

No
Comments on Draft soil and materials investigation, Payment and Geotechnical Report

1 General Comments  The Draft Materials and Site Investigation Report

should include detail Conclusions and
Recommendations as indicated in ERA’s design and
quality assurance manual as out lined herein under.
6.1 General
6.2 Sub grade
6.3 Construction Material
6.4 Foundations
6.5 Special Problem and construction consideration

 Location Map has not been included for the sources of

construction materials even though stations and the
corresponding RHS/LHS offsets are presented.
Location map of materials (borrow pit and quarries in
particular) are useful to prepare material utilization
diagram which enables optimization of haulage of
pavement materials.

 The name and signature of your personnel, who

prepared, checked and approved the report, shall be
indicated in the final report and furthermore, each page
shall be stamped.

 The soil and material report shall take account of the

site and material investigations along the center line of
approved alignment. However, to date the approved
route selection report not yet submitted. Therefore,
please advise the Contractor’s to submit the final Route
selection before submission of the final Site and Material
Investigation, pavement and Geotechnical Design
Report.
2. Climate, Section 2.2  Please included summaries of the past ten years mean
(Page 6) annual rainfall and temperature date of the area.
3. Soil and Material  As an input for pavement design, classification of sub-
Investigation (section grade/road bed in to fairly homogeneous section based
3.4, page 30-33) on laboratory CBR test results and normal description
of sub-grade soil is required and you have classified
accordingly. However, the classified uniform pavement
segments dissimilarity listed on page 30 and 33. Please,

Comments on Draft soil and Material Investigation , Pavement and Geotechnical Report Page 1
Core Consulting Engineers Adishehu-dela-samre design Build Road Project

avoid inconsistence throughout the report and correct

accordingly.
Sub-Grade Soil
 Traffic count and analyses does not execute and
Classification and
incorporated. The traffic count analysis and classification
Pavement Design
has been conducted in May 2016, and long time compared
with the recommended minimum counting frequency as
stated on ERA pavement design manual standard
requirements. Due the traffic volume are very erratic and
uncertain traffic growth and to have good pavement design
in regards on the current traffic volume, it is advisable
conduct traffic count and incorporate analysis in the final
pavement design report.

 In-situ bearing strength test or Dynamic cone penetration tests

(DCP) does not incorporated in the design for sub grade strength
and pavement analysis. DCP test is very important input for the
analyses of in-situ sub-grade CBR design class and measure
shear strength of road bed. Therefore, we would like to advise
you to carry out the DCP test and incorporate in the design
analysis and shown correlation between DCP-CBR test and
Laboratory CBR test.

 From the total of 74km(1 sample per 1km) sub grade and
Section 3.2.3
(Table 3-4, 3-5)
(On page 25,26 and 27,28)
pavement design segment 22km(1 sample per 1km) length does
not have test result for sub grade design CBR, especially in some
areas more than 5km continual length along design section,
California Bearing ratio (CBR) test for sub grade homogeneous
segment selection does not have conducted test result. In
addition 11km(1 sample per 1km) sub grade CBR test result
conducted by external laboratory you did modification or are not
similar to the actual report for the seek of sub grade CBR design
as well as pavement thickness determination.
As per your report, the data that used for sub grade CBR design
only 56% of the design input represent the design section from
the overall design segment. We advise to incorporate necessary
sufficient deign input as per the actual or external laboratory test
report and section that did not included in the sub grade CBR
design analysis in the final report. Unless otherwise you are
expected to clarify as per the signed ERA Design manual 2013
and Employer’s requirement.

 Design for Shoulder, Material type and thickness is not

Section 4.3 incorporated in the report. Pleases include in the final
(Page 42) report.

Comments on Draft soil and Material Investigation , Pavement and Geotechnical Report Page 2
Core Consulting Engineers Adishehu-dela-samre design Build Road Project

 As per our employer requirement and ERA pavement

Section 4.2 design manual, the minimum thickness of the improved
(Page 42) sub-grade or capping layer is 150mm. Even though, the
conversion factor of sub base to capping is 1:1.3, the
thickness of capping layer should not be lowered than
150mm.

 There is no similarity on sub grade homogenous section

Section 3.4 ( page 30)and design between
Section 3.5 , On table 3-6 and table 3-8. Avoid the inconsistence
( page 33) throughout the report.

 Section which covered by problematic sub grade or weak

bearing capacity and expansive soil section along road
stretches does not have mentioned and not suggested
possible remedial measure that would suit the pavement
design. Please include in the final report.

 The realignment section does not include in the process of

sub grade classes and pavement design. It is recommended
to carry out necessary test and incorporates in the design
process.

 In the draft report , the following does nor incorporated

 Distribution of fineness content for sub grade

soil throughout designed stretch.
 Design location verses DCP-CBR distribution
for sub grade soil (comparison of DCP-CBR
and soaked CBR values).
 Plasticity distribution along design section.

 In situ Sub-grade Density test or percent of compaction for

natural sub grade does not conduct and incorporated in the
draft report. Please include in the final report accordingly.

The entire sub grade soil tests which used for sub grade
classes investigation and pavement materials type and
thickness design conducted through an external
laboratory (Best Consulting Engineers plc). However ,

Comments on Draft soil and Material Investigation , Pavement and Geotechnical Report Page 3
 Core Consulting Engineers Adishehu-dela-samre design Build Road Project

pursuant to the general condition of contract sub clause

4 Construction materials
survey, section 3.3 (page
13-15)
5 Construction materials
(section 3.6.2) page 35
21.1, the contractor shall obtains the prior approval of
the Employer/ Employer representative before entering
in to sub contract for the execution of any part of
services. So please incorporate the written approval
from Employer/Employer representative to carry out
the work.
 It has been identified that the available major
construction materials within the project vicinity have
been investigated and the suitability of the identified
construction material for the sole purpose have been
checked. The corresponding quantities are presented in
the table as well; however, nothing has been said on
how you arrived at this estimated quantity and the
adequacy of the quantity. Please, explain the method
used for the determination of the quantity and describe
sufficiency of the quantity.
 On the report table 3-12 Laboratory test result of
Natural Gravel), we have noted that the Plastic Index
(PI) for the Natural gravel fail to meet the requirement
stipulated on ERA 2013 Technical specification manual.
Please revise and clarify

 It is well known that to control the effect of fine

materials on the performance of pavement materials,
ERA particular specification sets a maximum limit for
plasticity product (PP). However, the report neither
addresses the requirement for plasticity product nor
indicates the plasticity product of the identified natural
materials. Please, clarify.

 Construction materials for embankment fill, replacement

Section 3.6 .1( page 35)
and capping have different quality requirement. As
indicated and listed on table 3-10 the plastic index test
result does not satisfy for replacement work as stated
employer requirement(plastic index for replacement
15<PL<30).moreover , as per ERA Technical specification
2013 sub clause 4400(a), minimum grading modules for
capping materials not be less than 0.75. Due to the above
material quality restriction and aducacy, it is unable to use
table 3-10 material sources for capping and replacement
work. Therefore we advise to investigate additional
material borrow sources for capping and replacement

Comments on Draft soil and Material Investigation , Pavement and Geotechnical Report Page 4
 Core Consulting Engineers
Section 3.6.1( page 35
)and
Section 3.6.2 (page 37)
Section 3.6.2( page 37)
Section 3.6.2 (page 37)
Section 3.6.3( page 38)
6 Geotechnical
Investigation section 5.3
(Page 45-50)
7 Appendices
Comments on Draft soil and Material Investigation , Pavement and Geotechnical Report
Adishehu-dela-samre design Build Road Project
activity and incorporate in final report.
 In the report, table 3-10 and table 3-12, you are proposed
construction material sources for embankment fill and
gravel sub base construction. These two different
construction works almost share the same sources. How do
you manage quality and quantity of these same material
sources for different construction works?
 Based on table 3-12, the conducted and mentioned quality
test results are not the only material requirements for
gravel sub base work. Please carry out and incorporate the
reaming tests as per ERA technical specification 2013
quality requirement for gravel sub base work.
 Pursuance of our specification, all necessary quality tests
does not conducted and mentioned for base course and
asphalt construction materials work. Include in final report,
the required quality tests as per the contract agreement.
 The Contractor shall identify section with expansive
and/ or weak soils along the road corridor and shall be
included in the report. However, the Contractor has not
identified sections and included in the report. So please
advise to include same.
 A plan showing the areal distribution and location of
borings along the center lines of the proposed alignment
should be present in the appendix. As well, include the
surface contours to indicate the ground elevations.
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