Geotechnical investigation of borrow-pit material quality for construction of sustainable gravel roads in Palapye- Botswana

Abstract

The Geotechnical investigation of the gravel material used in the construction of gravel roads in Palapye is important as it ensures that the quality of the gravel material used complies with the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), Road Department standard and the Client standard Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). The geotechnical investigation also helps the contractors to construct gravel roads of high quality that can last longer without developing gravel road defects such as potholes, dust, stoniness and corrugation. It helps reduce the cost incurred to maintain the gravel roads. This study investigates the quality of the gravel material used to construct gravel roads in Palapye. The Atterberg limit tests (shrinkage limit, Plastic limit and liquid limit tests) and the moisture and dry density tests are being carried out at Rockefeller Laboratories to test the quality of the gravel material. Rockefeller is the company currently constructing the BIUST access road and they want to ensure that the quality of the gravel material they are using complies with the BOBS.