I'm confused as to why there were no geologists or even geotech engineers that told them that it is a bad idea to build on top of clays (if it is actually clay). Given that it almost always fucking rains in Norway (and also snow), clay will obvi give.
I don't know the whole geology of that area and I never claimed so much so but if there's one thing, I wouldn't build it so close to that body of water.
I meant, before the building of the railway and/or road in this particular area. The earliest study about expansive clays re: swelling especially after flooding or fluid retention during raining is in the 2000s. I was asking about that, not reinforcements now that the road is built.
The railway was built 85-100 years ago, and the road has been in place for just as long (although it has been upgraded since). At that time we didn't know much about the risk, the first modern landslide that raised awareness about quick clay was in the seventies (Rissa-skredet). So there were probably no reinforcements during the initial building of the road. Later upgrades of the road has had limitations because of quick clay in the area.
There was plans for upgrades of the rail line in this area, and the work being done right as this happened (which probably was the triggering cause for the slide) was reinforcements for the railroad in preparation for this.
At this point, I think the best solution is to find another place to build or connect the roads and railroad, perhaps behind that house in the picture, then treat and reinforce the clay before building something on top. Is there any possibility of doing this?
It being close to the water body as well doesn't really help. Drainage goes there so the clay kinda goes in that direction too, hence the 'slide'.
sadly, not many other areas in the area to actually build in, unless you want to up end and start a multimillion project. cuz there will most likely be quick-clay in that entire surrounding area, it just happens that was the weakest area,
Rissaraset was the first that raised awareness, so that we started taking quick clay seriously and systematically mapping the risk when planning roads and infrastructure.
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u/fareedadahlmaaldasi 5d ago
I'm confused as to why there were no geologists or even geotech engineers that told them that it is a bad idea to build on top of clays (if it is actually clay). Given that it almost always fucking rains in Norway (and also snow), clay will obvi give.