Design and Performance of Low Capacity Roads on Peat Foundation Soils in Ireland

A new paper co-authored by Ciaran Reilly of Ciaran Reilly & Associates and Fintan Buggy of Roughan & O’Donovan, “Design and Performance of Low Capacity Roads on Peat Foundation Soils in Ireland”, will be presented to the 4th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics (ICTG2021) next Wednesday. The paper examines four case histories, including a re-examination of the case of Cush Road on the Kildare/Offaly border documented by Prof Eamon Hanrahan for over 26 years and more modern uses of high performance geosynthetics to improve performance of low volume roads on peat soils in Ireland.

The International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics is organised every four years by ISSMGE Technical Committee on Transportation Geotechnics (TC202) and this 4th conference is hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The paper will be available from the ISSMGE website after the conference.

N17/R320 Lisduff Junction Upgrade – earthworks check

Ciaran Reilly & Associates has recently been engaged by Barry Transportation to undertake the role of Independent Checking Consultant in accordance with DN-ERW-03083 “Managing Geotechnical Risk” for the N17/R320 Lisduff Junction Upgrade on the N17 national road at Lisduff, Claremorris, Co Mayo. The area had been identified as High Collision Location by TII and this project will replace two at-grade junctions with a new compact grade-separated junction. The proposed works will involve a new bridge over the N17 and approximately 1.2km of link, junction, and local road. We look forward to working with Barry Transportation on this project to help improve road safety in the west of Ireland. (Image: Google Maps).

Satellite image with map of new N17/R320 Lisduff Junction Upgrade road layout

Lime modification at N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Improvement project

We’re currently working with Oliver Conroy Plant & Agri Hire and Roadbridge on the design and reporting of lime modification of cohesive soils at the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Improvement site.

Pulverisation and rolling of lime treated soil

Treatment with lime is allowing unacceptable Class U1 material be processed to acceptable Class 2 general fill, allowing efficient and sustainable reuse of local soil which may have been disposed of as a waste. This process also saves on importation of suitable fill from elsewhere, dramatically reducing road haulage movements and hence disturbance to the local environment. 

Lime modification plant spreading lime and ripping treated soil