Development Constraints in Areas with Sugar Beet Spoils: Fid-Bau Portal

Development Constraints in Areas with Sugar Beet Spoils

Dornfest, Robin / Leadbetter, III, R. B. "Chip" / Schram, Spencer

Development in areas with sugar beet spoils may result in unexpected complications and project constraints. Mitigation of beet spoils through design, removal and replacement, or avoidance can be costly. Identification of beet spoil materials prior to construction can allow mitigation methods to be incorporated into the construction sequence and lessen unforeseen construction costs. The agricultural boom of the sugar beet industry of Colorado in the early part of the 20^th century carried with it a significant byproduct: sugar beet spoils from processing. Flushed from the sugar beet processing plants, the byproducts were distributed over vast open areas. Beet spoil materials were commonly found covering large expanses of ground, or having leached into the soils, in areas up to 4 miles away from the processing plant. New developments have pushed into areas with beet spoils. Structures and roadways constructed over beet spoils have experienced construction difficulties and failures. New developments in these areas are almost certain to have problems if the beet spoils are not identified and mitigated prior to development. Beet spoils have peculiar engineering properties, are subject to piping, and can cause poor pavement performance including sinkholes in roadways, subgrade consolidation, and loss of adequate support. Beet spoils, often very high in soluble sulfates, react negatively with concrete and chemically treated subgrades, causing deterioration and other failures. Geotechnical investigations and research of historical site use are critical in identifying sites with potential sugar beet spoils. Identification of beet spoils prior to construction can result in significant savings during development and in the long term.