A-44 Sierra Nevada Highway, Spain

The project aims to provide continuity to long-distance traffic on the A-44 between Jaén and Motril, separating it from the urban traffic that will run along the current western ring road.

This new axis will run as a ring between the current ring road and the A-385, a regional road that connects Santa Fe and Otura through La Malahá. Specifically, the section of the project is the third of the project, between Santa Fe, near the junction with the A-92G, and Las Gabias, near the junction with the A-338, having crossed between the two points with the road linking Santa Fe and Granada through Belicena and that vertebrates the Vega Granadina.

Apart from the topsoil, the rest of the excavation materials have been classified in the geotechnical profile as INADEQUATE or MARGINAL materials mainly, with small proportions of TOLERABLE (according to O.C. 326/00 classification).

The reason for these units to be classified as Marginal is basically due to the high gypsum/sulfate content of the tested samples, as well as the failure to meet the IP ratio > 0.73.

Given the need for embankment material and the environmental restrictions for the location of loans near the route, the possibility of using materials with lower gypsum content is considered.

The use of these materials is possible for the core of the embankment taking due precautions, according to article 3303.3. of PG3, since they have less than 20% sulfate content.

The basic outline of the section proposed for the use of these materials is shown below:

The foundation, shoulders and backfill of the overexcavation will be made with material to be extracted from the quarry.

The thickness of one meter of foundation above the previous natural ground elevation is justified on the basis of the height that capillary water can reach in the event that water may appear at the base of the embankment (assumed up to the height of the old topography).

Another measure to be adopted is the encapsulation of the gypsiferous core in embankments by intercalating a 1.00 mm HDPE waterproof sheet between the marginal material in the core and the shoulders, foundation and crown, while for cuttings this sheet should be placed under the fill that will form the esplanade and separate it from the natural gypsiferous soil.