No abstract

CIRIA Report C550 Infrastructure Embankments: Condition Appraisal and Remedial Treatment was published in 2001 and has proved to be one of CIRIA's most popular documents. Such was the demand for it, CIRIA commissioned the same team to produce a similar report on cuttings to the same format and targeted at the same audience. The cuttings report (CIRIA Report C591) is to be published in the winter of 2003, and an updated version of the embankment report (CIRIA Report C592) is also to be published at the same time, launching both geotechnical asset documents as a companion pair. This briefing note describes the background to the research projects and details their purpose, intended readership and the main aspects of managing geotechnical assets. The reports are intended to present best practice and to raise awareness of these important structures to the operation of an efficient transport network.

At Peasmarsh in East Sussex a 70 ~ cutting, between 6.5 and 11 m high, was made in the Hastings Beds using the soil nailing technique in conjunction with a seeded geomat to provide a 'green' finish. Engineering geological investigations led to the adoption of soil nailing, and the design and installation of the nails. The cut slope and selected nails were instrumented and the cutting's performance observed.