Esplanade, Sub-base, and Pavement Construction Guidelines

Esplanade Construction

Definition

The esplanade is the finished surface of an embankment or excavation. It supports the sub-base, base, and pavement layers.

Geotechnical Characteristics (50cm Depth)

  • Particle size analysis
  • Atterberg limits
  • CBR
  • Water table status

Level Terraces

Packed in 20-25cm layers:

  • 90% AM (coherent soil)
  • 95% PM (non-coherent soil)

In the last 50cm of the bank:

  • 95% AM
  • 100% PM humidity

Moisture Content for PM Esplanade

Start work when soil humidity (h) in the top 50cm is:

h < H + 2

Where H = optimum moisture from testing.

Drainage

Maintain esplanade at least 60cm above the highest anticipated water table. Establish drainage if necessary.

Sub-Base and Base Construction

Sub-Base

The granular sub-base is the first firm layer placed on the esplanade, immediately following utility and crossing construction. Install before curbs.

Base

Paving follows infrastructure and sub-base acceptance. It includes:

  • Concrete base for sidewalks
  • Road base layer
  • Concrete pavement layers

After infrastructure acceptance, place sidewalk elements and the final pavement layer. The concrete base supports tiles and protects services.

Types of Bases

  • Graded aggregate
  • Gravel-cement

Gravel-cement bases are a mix of aggregate, cement, and water, compacted to form the base layer.

Driveway Pavement

Concrete Pavements

Concrete slabs, 15cm or less thick, built in-situ with construction joints.

Concrete Pavers

Prefabricated concrete pieces in various shapes, sizes, thicknesses, colors, and layouts, placed on a pavement layer.

Flexible Pavement

Consists of a middle layer and wearing course, using hot or cold bitumen. Hot bitumen is suitable for all traffic, while cold bitumen is for low to medium traffic.

Rigid Pavement

Mass concrete, or reinforced concrete in justified cases. Joint types include: concreting joints, longitudinal twist joints, and transverse contraction/expansion joints.

Pedestrian Paving

Concrete Pavers

Typically used for sidewalks, boardwalks, and mixed-traffic areas.

Other Pavement Types

  • Concrete pavements with asphalt joints
  • Natural stone pavers
  • Asphalt with silica finish
  • Hydraulic sand tiles

Natural Stone Pavement

Must be homogeneous, fine-grained, compact, and free of defects.

Curbs and Gutters

Definitions

Curbs separate sidewalks/driveways from garden areas. They serve as a reference for utility installation and contain pavement layers.

Types of Curbs

  • Regular curb
  • Curb with gutter
  • Traceable curb for fords

Gutters

Prefabricated concrete or stone elements that accompany curbs, guiding stormwater to drains.

Paving Materials

Continuous Artificial Layers

  • Graded aggregate (natural or treated)
  • Gravel (natural, cement, emulsion, or slag)

Watering

  • Primer irrigation (hydrocarbon binder on granular layer)
  • Adhesion irrigation (bitumen emulsion on treated layer)

Bituminous Materials

  • Slurry for surface treatments (cold)
  • Grout for surface treatments (hot)
  • Hot asphalt mixtures

Concrete

  • Vibrated lean concrete (for base layers)
  • Reinforced concrete base (for pavements)

Discontinuous Pavement

  • Tiles (stone, cement, asphalt)
  • Slabs and pavers (concrete, stone)
  • Pavers (concrete, stone)
  • Miscellaneous (stoned, concrete mosaic, cobblestone)