Thurrock, Essex

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Project Summary

A ground investigation was required to provide geotechnical and geo-environmental survey data from in and around the Essex Arena Raceway, Thurrock.

A desk study revealed that the site had undergone numerous phases of mineral extraction, leaving a legacy that included gravel pits and chalk quarries. Over time the pits have been backfilled with landfill, including inert, commercial and industrial waste. One chalk quarry was also flooded with water and remains as a lake. Post-quarrying, the site’s primary use was that of a motorsports arena which is now derelict. The only remaining land use is that of a go-karting track above the eastern landfill area.

CCGI were engaged to determine the presence and depth of made ground and any associated contamination across the site, and the underlying geotechnical properties, to facilitate the sites redevelopment.

Project Details

Sixty-four exploratory hole locations were carried out using a variety of methods, including two CCGI Fraste multi-purpose rotary drilling rigs, a CCGI Terrier drilling rig, a JCB 3CX mechanical excavator, and a CCGI Dynamic Cone Penetrometer.

All works were supervised on a full-time basis by suitably qualified in-house Engineering Geologists.

Geotechnical logging was carried out to BS5930: 2015+A1:2020, BS EN ISO 14688, BS EN ISO 14689 and CIRIA C574, with detailed discontinuity spacing records and classifications of the chalk.

The program of works included:

  • Service tracing using ground penetrating radar (GPR), CAT and Genny
  • 8 No. rotary drilled boreholes using a multipurpose combined dynamic sampling and rotary coring rig.
  • 22 No. dynamic (windowless) sample boreholes.
  • 2 No. variable head permeability testing.
  • 34 No. machine-excavated trial pits
  • 5 No. soakaway tests
  • 22 No. Transport Research Laboratory Dynamic Cone Penetration tests.
  • In-situ testing including SPTs and hand shear vanes
  • Geotechnical and geo-environmental laboratory testing
  • Factual reporting
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