Uploaded October 2009 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
EPSFoamPro.com
90% Geofoam will save more money than other soft soil solution
Average EPS Cost: $50-$100 per cubic yard (Per Marvin Cook of AES)
What is the goal of design and construction of highway embankments over soft ground?
The goal is to provide an adequate transportation facility at the lowest overall life-cycle cost.
Life-Cycle Costs Include:
Design costs
Construction costs
Right-of-way costs
Routine maintenance costs
Periodic maintenance and
Rehabilitation costs
Operating costs
Accident costs
Users' cost
- Pavement smoothness
- Foundation stability during construction
- Tolerable post construction total and differential settlements
- Hazards caused by maintenance operations and potential failures
Inconvenience
Environmental aspects
Aesthetic aspects
When all of these factors are evaluated, an alternative with a higher initial material or total cost, e.g. Geofoam, may prove to be the best alternative. NCHRP Document 65 (Project 24-11) Chapter 12-2
What is cost-benefit analysis?
A cost-benefit analysis considers the intangible consequences or impacts of an alternative in addition to the tangible costs and benefits. These intangible consequences may be required to perform an adequate cost comparison.
How do you incorporate cost-benefit analysis?
To incorporating the intangible benefits into a life-cycle or cost-benefit analysis involves trying to quantify the benefits. For example, the benefit of reduced construction time can be quantified by estimating the value that travelers place on travel time savings during periods of heavy congestion and incorporating the benefit into a life-cycle or cost benefit analysis.
When is reducing construction time important?
When soft ground treatment is unanticipated during the construction phase
If the section of roadway or bridge approach that is to be treated affects the critical path of the construction schedule.
When remedial treatment procedures such as stabilization by preloading may require several months to more than a year to complete.
Maintenance and construction costs often increase as the time available for construction decreases.
What has happened in recent years?
The least costly but more-time consuming techniques have become less attractive in recent years because of shorter project times, tighter schedules, and the need to maintain traffic. Consequently, soft ground treatment technologies such as the use of lightweight fills have taken on an increasing role in the construction of roadway embankments. The typically higher unit cost of some types of lightweight fill materials is usually offset by savings when all of the project costs are considered.
Factors that influence costs of utilizing the various types of lightweight fills include
Quantity required for the project
Transportation costs
Availability of materials
Contractors experience with the product
Placement or compaction costs
Specialty items that may be required
Also, the cost of using some waste fills will be dependent on the availability of state rebate programs.
Fact: Placement and compaction costs can be higher for some types of lightweight fills than for conventional soil fill.
Fact: Geofoam does not require moisture and compaction control, which allows placement in adverse conditions. Additionally, adverse weather conditions typically do not affect placement rates of Geofoam. Therefore, the higher material cost of EPS block Geofoam may be offset by lower installation costs. The difference between loose and compacted density of some lightweight fill materials should be considered in the transportation and placement costs.
In summary, EPS Geofoam provides a number of intangible benefits such as
Not requiring an environmental permit
Greater speed of construction
Placement in adverse conditions
Long-term durability
Consistent material properties
No utility replacement that should be considered in the design and selection process
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SUMMARY (NCHRP Document 65)
EPSFoamPro.com
90% Geofoam will save more money than other soft soil solution
Average EPS Cost: $50-$100 per cubic yard (Per Marvin Cook of AES)
What is the goal of design and construction of highway embankments over soft ground?
The goal is to provide an adequate transportation facility at the lowest overall life-cycle cost.
Life-Cycle Costs Include:
Design costs
Construction costs
Right-of-way costs
Routine maintenance costs
Periodic maintenance and
Rehabilitation costs
Operating costs
Accident costs
Users' cost
- Pavement smoothness
- Foundation stability during construction
- Tolerable post construction total and differential settlements
- Hazards caused by maintenance operations and potential failures
Inconvenience
Environmental aspects
Aesthetic aspects
When all of these factors are evaluated, an alternative with a higher initial material or total cost, e.g. Geofoam, may prove to be the best alternative. NCHRP Document 65 (Project 24-11) Chapter 12-2
What is cost-benefit analysis?
A cost-benefit analysis considers the intangible consequences or impacts of an alternative in addition to the tangible costs and benefits. These intangible consequences may be required to perform an adequate cost comparison.
How do you incorporate cost-benefit analysis?
To incorporating the intangible benefits into a life-cycle or cost-benefit analysis involves trying to quantify the benefits. For example, the benefit of reduced construction time can be quantified by estimating the value that travelers place on travel time savings during periods of heavy congestion and incorporating the benefit into a life-cycle or cost benefit analysis.
When is reducing construction time important?
When soft ground treatment is unanticipated during the construction phase
If the section of roadway or bridge approach that is to be treated affects the critical path of the construction schedule.
When remedial treatment procedures such as stabilization by preloading may require several months to more than a year to complete.
Maintenance and construction costs often increase as the time available for construction decreases.
What has happened in recent years?
The least costly but more-time consuming techniques have become less attractive in recent years because of shorter project times, tighter schedules, and the need to maintain traffic. Consequently, soft ground treatment technologies such as the use of lightweight fills have taken on an increasing role in the construction of roadway embankments. The typically higher unit cost of some types of lightweight fill materials is usually offset by savings when all of the project costs are considered.
Factors that influence costs of utilizing the various types of lightweight fills include
Quantity required for the project
Transportation costs
Availability of materials
Contractors experience with the product
Placement or compaction costs
Specialty items that may be required
Also, the cost of using some waste fills will be dependent on the availability of state rebate programs.
Fact: Placement and compaction costs can be higher for some types of lightweight fills than for conventional soil fill.
Fact: Geofoam does not require moisture and compaction control, which allows placement in adverse conditions. Additionally, adverse weather conditions typically do not affect placement rates of Geofoam. Therefore, the higher material cost of EPS block Geofoam may be offset by lower installation costs. The difference between loose and compacted density of some lightweight fill materials should be considered in the transportation and placement costs.
In summary, EPS Geofoam provides a number of intangible benefits such as
Not requiring an environmental permit
Greater speed of construction
Placement in adverse conditions
Long-term durability
Consistent material properties
No utility replacement that should be considered in the design and selection process
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SUMMARY (NCHRP Document 65)
