Navigating the complexities of building over soft peat soils requires a unique approach to overcome many hurdles. Unlike conventional soils, peat provides unstable ground for pads or roads. These soft soils are composed primarily of organic and decaying matter with a propensity to retain water. This often leads to heavy saturation, which negatively affects paved surfaces. During colder months, these soils freeze over causing cracks and frost boils. When the ground thaws, the challenges escalate further, and sinks and potholes form. The frequent maintenance required to extend the life of structures built over these soils can be both expensive and environmentally damaging.
An alternative solution:
Paradox provides a groundbreaking cellular confinement system (Tough Cell® geocell technology) that reinforces structures built over unpredictable soils, and slashes maintenance to a minimum. Recently, Paradox was commissioned to build a parking lot pad over deep saturated soil and successfully executed it in just a couple of days. Here’s a snapshot of the project:
Project overview:
After unsuccessful attempts to find an optimal solution, a rural Alberta County was referred to Paradox for an innovative solution to build a parking lot for their campsite. Working alongside the client’s crew and machinery, Paradox successfully completed the project ahead of the May long weekend, within the allocated budget, and solving for the soil’s challenging properties.
The problem:
The county faced 10 feet deep saturated peat that was still frozen. Traditional construction would require excavating the deep peat and backfilling to level the ground. Given the short timeframe of the project, this option was not feasible. In fact, this approach would be time-consuming, incur significant labor and resource costs, and disturb the natural soil and carbon sink below in the process.
An adjacent county that previously experienced success hiring Paradox gave an excellent referral. Subsequently, Paradox assessed the job and deemed the parking lot pad an ideal match for Tough Cell® technology. This confinement technology would provide a solution that could be executed given the current adversities:
- Deep peat
- Frost in the ground
- Winter construction
The mission:
The goal was to construct a stable, reinforced parking lot over saturated peat soil with minimal disturbance to the land.
Timeframe: Although the county allocated three weeks to finish the project, Paradox completed it in 3 days.
The solution:
Paradox collaborated with engineering design consultants Stratum Logics to assess the project conditions and design a comprehensive solution that could withstand the unique challenge. The engineered solution used two layers of Tough Cell® geocells, which eliminated the need to excavate the peat and backfill. Additionally, it used lower-quality infill that could be easily accessed locally, reducing the number of hauling trips and manpower required.
Working closely with the client, Paradox provided technical Tough Cell® expertise by demonstrating and installing the first layer (bottom layer). The county’s crew then stretched, pulled, filled, and compacted the top layer with local gravel using what they’d learned.
This three-day construction project included removing unwanted trees and organic materials such as topsoil and roots and precise leveling and installation of Tough Cell®.
Benefits to the client:
By teaming up with Paradox to execute the build, the county benefitted from:
- COST SAVINGS:
By utilizing their own resources, the client gained significant cost savings. This eliminated equipment rental costs and reduced labour costs. The costs of hauling and aggregate fill were also significantly reduced with Tough Cell®.
- TIMELINESS:
By using Tough Cell®, the client saved a significant amount of time on land preparation (such as excavation), ensuring that the parking lot would be open for the May long weekend.
- SUSTAINABILITY:
The client reduced the environmental impact by minimizing disturbance to the peat and the carbon sink below, and reducing the aggregate fill needed to cut CO2e emissions.
The success of this parking lot project demonstrates the transformative power of Tough Cell® confinement technology especially when building over soft soils. For technical details of this project, read more here.
As Paradox continues to innovate, the company remains dedicated to providing sustainable solutions for building pads, stabilizing slopes, and reinforcing roads. Tough Cell® technology paves the way for future projects, ensuring the preservation of natural ecosystems.
Paradox is uniquely positioned to help you get your projects off the ground. As a full-service company, Paradox provides a comprehensive suite of services, which include civil earthworks, access matting, road building, water clarification, and drainage solutions.
For inquiries on road and pad projects, please contact Paradox at 1.877.MUD.UGLY.
Share This:
