Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 21

Designer's Forum
Advancing roadway
construction: The role
of a biaxial geogrid in
subgrade stabilization
By Gretchen McInnes, P.E.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
I
n the civil engineering discipline, the challenge of constructing
durable and cost-effective roadways over problematic soils is a
common yet complex issue. High-plasticity clay subgrades, known
for their susceptibility to moisture and subsequent weakening, pose
significant hurdles. Traditional methods of soil excavation or chemical
treatment can lead to increased costs and project delays. However,
with the increased utilization of geogrids, particularly the TerraGridĀ®
TXG-7, a cost-effective and reliable solution, engineers have a trusted
option to keep their projects on track.
The problem: Saturated clay soils
and traditional methods
The city of College Station, Texas, needed to widen Rock Prairie
Road from an existing two-lane road to a four-lane road with bike
lanes and sidewalks. Like many challenging roadway projects across
Central Texas, the subgrade soil was saturated to such an extent that
over-excavation did not reach stable ground. Efforts to remove and
replace several feet of soil with better material were futile; the expensive,
imported fill could not bridge over the underlying weak soil. The
persistent saturation of the high PI (plasticity index) clay subgrade
meant that traditional soil replacement methods not only were costly
but also ineffective, risking project delays and budget overruns.
ROCK PRAIRIE ROAD
CONSTRUCTION AND
SUBGRADE STABILIZATION
OWNER
City of College Station, Texas
ENGINEER
Terracon
CONTRACTOR
Brazos Paving, Inc.
GEO PRODUCT
TerraGridĀ® TXG-7
Gretchen McInnes, P.E., senior technical
sales engineer at Hanes Geo Components,
is based in Houston, Texas. She is a licensed
professional engineer in the state of
Maryland with over 20 years of experience
in geosynthetic design of roadways, MSE
berms, slopes and walls with a particular
focus on design-build solutions. She earned
her B.S. in civil engineering from The
Georgia Institute of Technology.
All photos courtesy of Gretchen McInnes.
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
21
http://www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com

Geosynthetics October/November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geosynthetics October/November 2024

Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - Cover1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - Cover2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 5
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 6
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 7
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 8
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 9
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 10
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 11
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 12
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 13
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 14
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 15
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 16
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 17
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 18
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 19
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 20
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 21
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 22
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 23
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 24
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 25
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 26
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 27
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 28
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 29
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 30
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 31
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 32
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 33
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Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - 44
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - cover3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - cover4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers1
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers2
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers3
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers4
Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers5
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Geosynthetics October/November 2024 - GeoFrontiers7
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