Regulatory framework for road and railway construction on the sensitive clays of Norway

Abstract

Parts of the Norwegian roads and railway network are located in areas dominated by sensitive clays. Several new projects are facing challenges in areas with deposits of sensitive clay. The design codes and guidelines of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) and the Norwegian National Railways Administration (NNRA) have been developed over many years with respect to ground investigations and safety requirements. These regulations are specific for road and railway construction. In addition there are general design codes like the Norwegian Standards, and the regulations established by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) concerning the safety of larger areas adjacent to e.g. roads and railways. This paper points out the manner in which the regulations impose an increased attention to safety when sensitive clay is encountered. The need for further development of the regulations, based on recent studies and research, is also described.