3.7.2 ROADWAY (1996)
3.7.2.1 General – Risks and Possible Damage
Water overflowing the embankment, either from a direct flow or backwater, frequently results in damage to the
roadway. This damage may be as severe as a washout or less apparent in other forms, such as, a loss of the
shoulder, a steepening of the embankment, a loss of crib or shoulder ballast, or a softening of the subgrade’s
support characteristics. Damage resulting from sloughing and slides are usually more severe as the water
recedes from a saturated embankment. Loose, fine-grained, cohesionless soils are more susceptible to
sloughing. In general, soil conditions, vegetation, and the rapidity at which the water recedes are primary
factors in determining the risk of sloughing.
3.7.2.2 Temporary Protection Measures
a. Temporary protection of the roadway section is sometimes necessary, particularly in flood events where
immediate action is necessary and time constraints do not permit implementation of a permanent
solution. Periodic and close track inspections of flood and washout susceptible areas and identification of
high risk locations will be a beneficial first step in determining the appropriate remedial repair