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Dudley Close - Ground Stabilization Scheme

Following heavy rainfall, a ground subsidence occurred in the cul-de-sac highway of Dudley Close. The subsidence manifested as a 7.5-metre (24.6-foot) diameter depression in the highway, ranging between 30 and 70 millimetres (1.2 and 2.8 inches) below surrounding ground level. Reading Borough Council reached out to our team to help address this issue.

After the Council closed the road, we conducted a ground investigation to gain a better understanding of the ground conditions and vertical and lateral extents of the instability risk. The results of our ground investigation indicated that the cause of the subsidence resulted from the presence of a metastable solution pipe within the chalk bedrock, which had been infilled with overlying disturbed soils. The Council then recommissioned our team to design and oversee the technical direction of a ground stabilization scheme.

Through a series of treatment boreholes, utilizing compaction grouting ground improvement techniques, the solution pipe and disturbed soils within the area of treatment received a grout injection of 300 tons. This allowed the impacted section of highway to be restored and for residents to regain vehicular access to their properties. A satisfactory level of ground improvement was achieved, making the treated section of the highway resilient to further instability.