Ground Improvement Techniques for

East Coast Expressway Phase II

(LPT 2), Malaysia

Project
The East Coast Expressway Phase II is 190km long and it runs from Jabur
Interchange to Kuala Terengganu. The project was demarcated and
awarded as 12 separate sub-packages. Ground treatment was instituted
where the highway passes through areas of swampy ground and soft
alluvial sediments. The objectives are to ensure embankment stability and
to restrict settlements within acceptable limits. The project is expected to
be completed by 2010.

Client
Public Works Department
(Jabatan Kerja Raya, JKR)
Malaysian Highway Authority
- (Package-10 only)

Main Contractor
MTD Construction Sdn Bhd.
- (Package 10)
Tidal Marine Engineering Sdn. Soil Condition
Bhd. - (Package 2 & 3 only) Typically, soft ground comprises silty clay (cu = 10 to 15 kPa) down to
Cergas Murni Sdn. Bhd. varying depth. In general, water content is 50 60% and plasticity index
- (Package 9A) 20 30%.
GPQ-Bukit Puteri JV
- (Package 11) Solution
TSR Bina Sdn. Bhd. Several types of ground improvement techniques were implemented which
- (Package 12) included removal and replacement; vertical drains and surcharging; vibro
sand and stone columns; and dynamic replacement, to meet the stability
Project Details
Area: 451,800 m2 and settlement criteria of proposed structures. Keller was involved in the
design and execution of part of these works at the following packages:
Execution Period
2006 to 2009 Package 2 Vibro Stone Columns 46,000 m2
Package 3 Vibro Stone Columns 27,700 m2
Executing Branch - Dynamic Replacement 131,300 m2
Keller (M) Sdn. Bhd Package 9A - Vibro Stone Columns 21,600 m2
B5-10, Block B, Plaza Dwitasik, Package 10 - Vibro Sand Columns 9,500 m2
Bandar Sri Permaisuri,
- Vibro Stone Columns 142,700 m2
Off Jalan Permaisuri 1,
56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Dynamic Replacement 9,700 m2
Tel: +60 3 9173 3198 - Prefabricated Vertical Drains 30,700 m2
Fax: +60 3 9173 3196 Package 11 - Vibro Stone Columns 23,500 m2
E-mail: info@keller.com.my Package 12 - Vibro Stone Columns 9,100 m2
www.kellerfareast.com
 Construction
The ground improvement works commenced in Sept06 and are expected
to be completed by March09. At the peak of construction, the machineries
involved included 5 nos. Vibrocat, 3 nos. Alpha-S, 2 nos. PVD rigs and 3
nos. DR rigs. Due to environmental sensitivities, all the stone columns
were installed using dry method. Ground treatment was carried out from
top of the working platform to the roof of stiff to very stiff clayey silt. This
ranges from 4m to 18m deep. The embankments were fully instrumented
and monitored during the filling and rest period of the embankment.

Prefabricated Vertical Drains

installation in progress

Vibrocat were involved for vibro Crane-hung Alpha-S system for vibro replacement method
stone column and vibro sand
column works

Automated Keller DR crane Dynamic Replacement crane during installation