Road construction over voids caused by active gypsum dissolution, with an example from Ripon, North Yorkshire, England

Sudden subsidence problems, caused by gypsum karst developed in the Permian sequence of Northern England, have caused difficult conditions for road construction. This paper presents the design strategy, mathematical modelling and parameters used to construct roads to cope with such difficult ground conditions. Because it is impossible to locate all the subsidence features along a route, the road design has to cope with potential future problems. This is achieved by using reinforcement-comprising layers of tensile membrane material within the earth embankment. This will prevent dangerous catastrophic collapse and maintain serviceability, but will allow sagging to show where major problems exist. The modelling showed that for the situation at Ripon, two layers of tensile membrane material within the earth embankment fulfilled the design brief for the road.