Challenge
Settlement of concrete road slabs in Bath city centre created uneven surfaces and safety concerns, requiring stabilisation within a constrained urban environment without prolonged disruption to traffic and businesses.
Solution
Geobear delivered precision geopolymer injection to fill voids, re‑compact sub‑base soils and re‑level slabs, restoring carriageway performance through short‑duration, low‑disruption works.
High‑traffic urban environment
Localised geopolymer injection
Trafficable shortly after injection
Sections of concrete carriageway within Bath city centre had experienced settlement due to loss of support beneath the slabs. Water ingress and long‑term trafficking had contributed to sub‑base degradation and void formation.
The resulting uneven surface reduced ride quality and increased the risk of further deterioration if left untreated. Given the dense urban setting, maintaining access for vehicles, pedestrians and local businesses was a key consideration.
Traditional excavation and slab replacement would have required extended road closures, increased plant movement and significant disruption within a busy city centre environment.
A stabilisation method was required that could address the underlying ground instability, restore slab levels accurately and operate within tight working windows while minimising noise, vibration and surface disturbance.
Geobear designed a targeted geopolymer injection programme based on site investigation findings. Small‑diameter injection points were installed through the affected slabs at predetermined centres.
The two‑component geopolymer was injected beneath the carriageway where it expanded to fill voids, bind loose sub‑base material and increase bearing capacity. Controlled expansion enabled managed re‑levelling of the slabs, with movement monitored to remain within specified tolerances.
The compact plant footprint and rapid curing properties of the geopolymer allowed works to be completed efficiently, with treated areas returned to traffic shortly after injection.
The intervention reinstated sub‑surface support and corrected differential settlement without full excavation. Ride quality improved and the risk associated with ongoing void development was mitigated.
Works were delivered within the agreed programme, limiting disruption in a constrained urban environment while providing a technically robust ground stabilisation solution aligned with long‑term asset performance.
Get in touch with our expert team today and discover how Geobear can extend the life of your critical infrastructure assets.
