Groundwater Control Issues in Transportation Engineering: A Short Review of Dewatering Methods and Lessons Learned

Areas that once were deemed unsuitable for construction due to a high water table are now being developed to meet the needs of an increasing population. With the decline in land availability to build or expand highway networks above ground, underground facilities, such as mass-transit lines, may represent the future of transportation. Underground structures naturally require the control of groundwater to complete construction. A review of common dewatering systems and methods used in the construction of transportation facilities found that similar techniques are used in other industries. Also, scant few case studies document dewatering problems although they represent a key component of common construction claims in the civil engineering industry. A common thread among all construction initiatives is the need for thorough subsurface site investigation. The uncertainty of subsurface conditions related to groundwater issues has resulted in insurance claims and litigation reaching disproportionately high numbers in civil engineering construction. Better assessments of hydrogeological formations may help to mitigate potential groundwater control problems.