<p><p><h2>Commentary</h2>Typical contract pay items and units of measurement used for geosynthetic reinforced embankments include:<br><ul> <li>Geosynthetic (fabric or grid) measured by the square yard in-place.</li> <li>Granular material measured by the ton.</li> <li>Embankment material measured by the cubic yard.</li></ul>The equipment used to construct geosynthetic reinforced embankments is common to highway construction projects; therefore additional mobilization costs are negligible.<br><h2>Cost Information Summary</h2>Production rates for the installation of geosynthetics are highly sensitive to the delivery rate of granular material. Equipment and labor resources are easily adjusted to match the delivery rate of granular material. Information is provided on two categories of geosynthetics:<br><ul> <li>Geosynthetics used in a permanent reinforced embankment application.</li> <li>Geosynthetics used solely to provide a working platform for a subsequent ground improvement technology.</li></ul>The following table lists construction cost items which are associated with geosynthetic reinforced embankments, along with approximate cost ranges. Cost ranges are based on data from 2009 through 2010. Readers should carefully examine the project characteristics and constraints and determine to what degree if any these factors may influence the actual cost associated with constructing geosynthetic reinforced embankments.</p><p><table class='tablepress' id='tablepress-88'><thead><th>Pay Item Description</th><th>Quantity</th><th>Unit</th><th>Low Unit Price</th><th>High Unit Price</th><th>Factors Which May Potentially Impact Costs</th></thead><tbody><tr><td >Geosynthetics Used for Reinforced Embankments</td><td >Greater Than 5,000</td><td >SY</td><td >$2.50</td><td >$12.00</td><td >Geogrids are more expensive than fabrics
Woven fabrics are more expensive than nonwoven fabrics
Heavier fabrics cost more
Smaller dimension grids and heavier grids cost more
Specified lap widths impact the total quantity of material required. Seam requirements should be considered
Production rates are generally limited by the delivery rate of granular material
</td></tr><tr><td >Geosynthetics Used for Working Platforms</td><td >Greater Than 5,000
</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.00</td><td >$3.50</td><td >Same as above</td></tr><tr><td >Granular Fill Material</td><td >Greater Than 2,500
</td><td >TON</td><td >$7.00</td><td >$20.00</td><td >Material specifications and haul distance will impact unit costs
Haul route conditions will impact unit costs
</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>Historical Cost Information</h2>A sample of actual project costs for geosynthetics used in reinforced embankments is shown in the table below.</p><p><table class='tablepress' id='tablepress-89'><thead><th>Pay Item Description</th><th>Quantity</th><th>Unit</th><th>Low Unit Price</th><th>High Unit Price</th><th>Average Unit Price</th><th>No. of Bids</th><th>Bid Date</th><th>Source/Agency</th></thead><tbody><tr><td >Geosynthetic Reinf. Found. Over Soft Soils</td><td >4,835</td><td >SY</td><td >$3.13</td><td >n/a</td><td >n/a</td><td >1</td><td >3/4/2009</td><td >Florida DOT</td></tr><tr><td >Miscellaneous Geogrid Reinforcement, Type I</td><td >8,375</td><td >SY</td><td >$2.70</td><td >$5.60</td><td >$4.19</td><td >7</td><td >4/23/2009</td><td >Oregon DOT</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>A sample of actual project costs for geosynthetics used in working platforms is shown in the table below.</p><p><table class='tablepress' id='tablepress-91'><thead><th>Pay Item Description</th><th>Quantity</th><th>Unit</th><th>Low Unit Price</th><th>High Unit Price</th><th>Average Unit Price</th><th>No. of Bids</th><th>Bid Date</th><th>Source/Agency</th></thead><tbody><tr><td >Reinforcement Grid (Biaxial, Type 2)</td><td >90,023</td><td >SY</td><td >$2.53</td><td >n/a</td><td >n/a</td><td >1</td><td >7/29/2009</td><td >Florida DOT</td></tr><tr><td rowspan=3 >Geogrid Base Reinforcement</td><td >72,000</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.00</td><td >$2.40</td><td >$1.79</td><td >10</td><td >6/5/2009</td><td rowspan=3 >Arizona DOT</td></tr><tr><td >28,100</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.75</td><td >$3.25</td><td >$2.21</td><td >9</td><td >6/12/2009</td></tr><tr><td >5,735</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.60</td><td >$3.50</td><td >$2.22</td><td >6</td><td >9/25/2009</td></tr><tr><td rowspan=2 >Stabilization Geotextile, Special</td><td >12,320</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.46</td><td >$4.80</td><td >$2.55</td><td >12</td><td >3/5/2010</td><td rowspan=2 >Michigan DOT</td></tr><tr><td >3,210</td><td >SY</td><td >$2.45</td><td >$3.25</td><td >$1.15</td><td >4</td><td >10/1/2010</td></tr><tr><td rowspan=3 >Geotextile Stabilization</td><td >32,367</td><td >SY</td><td >$0.84</td><td >$1.46</td><td >$1.15</td><td >6</td><td >3/25/2010</td><td rowspan=3 >New York DOT</td></tr><tr><td >5,200</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.09</td><td >$2.51</td><td >$1.58</td><td >8</td><td >5/20/2010</td></tr><tr><td >13,459</td><td >SY</td><td >$1.05</td><td >$2.51</td><td >$1.46</td><td >7</td><td >6/10/2010</td></tr><tr><td >Special – Geogrid, Type P2 (WT:06)</td><td >6,300</td><td >SY</td><td >$3.36</td><td >$3.52</td><td >$3.44</td><td >2</td><td >7/15/2010</td><td >Ohio DOT</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>Conceptual Cost Estimating Tool</h2>The conceptual cost estimating tool is intended to be used to develop a preliminary project scoping cost estimate. This preliminary estimate can be based on the typical construction cost item values as contained in the Cost Information product or from user specified cost values when such are known. Users should read and understand the information in Cost Information product prior to using the cost estimating tool. You can download the Cost Estimating Tool to open a cost estimating spreadsheet for producing a preliminary project scoping estimate.</p><p><a class="arrow-link" href="https://www.geoinstitute.org/sites/default/files/geotech-tools-uploads/… the Cost Estimating Tool</a></p><p> </p></p>
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