EXCAVATION AND EARTHWORKS 1.0 General 1.

1 This Work shall consist of all the required excavation within the limits of the Works. It shall include the removal and proper utilization and hauling, or disposal of all excavated materials, and constructing, shaping and finishing of all earthworks over the entire extent of the Works, in conformity with the Drawings and this Specification. 1.2 The excavation and earthworks shall be executed in such a manner and order as approved by the S.O. The Contractor shall be responsible for compliance with by-laws and regulations relating to earthworks. 1.3 Excavation in rock and/or hard material shall respectively be measured and paid for as extra over to excavation and earthworks in accordance with the Provisional Bills of Quantities. The Contractor shall give reasonable notice to the S.O to examine, classify the excavation and to take measurement prior to breaking up. For contract based on Specifications and Drawings, unless otherwise provided in the Contract, for the purpose of pricing the excavation and earthworks, the whole excavation shall be assumed to be without rock and/or hard material as defined hereunder. 1.4 For contract based on Quantities, the pricing shall be in accordance with the Bills of Quantities. 1.5 Computation of volume of rock excavation for payment shall be based on nett volume excavated as indicated in the Drawings.

2.0 Site Clearing 2.1 The whole Site shall be cleared to the extent as shown in the relevant Drawings. These shall include clearing, grubbing and removing all trees, shrubs, vegetation and butts; and clearing, demolishing, breaking up and removing all structures above ground level such as buildings, walls, fences and other obstruction within the Site which have been designated to be demolished or removed. All spoil and debris shall be removed and disposed off as approved by the S.O. in accordance with Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) and Regulations.

3.0 Preservation of Existing Trees 3.1 The Contractor shall take precaution to protect from damage, all existing trees and shrubs.

4. Demolition of Existing Structures 4.1 Any existing structures and other obstruction which are designated to be removed shall be demolished, broken up, removed and disposed as approved by the S.O. 4.2 All salvaged materials arising from the demolition work shall, unless otherwise specified, become the property of the Contractor, and shall be removed from Site as soon as possible.

5. Relocation of Existing Utilities and Services 5.1 The Contractor's attention is specially drawn to his responsibilities under the Clause headed Damage to Property' of the Condition of Contract. 5.2 Before commencing on any excavation, the Contractor or his representative shall accompany the S.O. on a site inspection to identify the presence of underground cables, water or other service pipes at or in the vicinity of such excavation. Thereafter, the Contractor shall carry out the excavation work in a manner and sequence as approved by the S.O. 5.3 If during excavation, the Contractor's workmen uncover any cables, water or other service pipes, work shall be stopped immediately and shall not be again started until the matter has been reported to the S.O. who will notify the appropriate local authority, and subsequently issue whatever directions he deemed appropriate.

6.0 General Excavation Excavation shall be divided into two categories i.e. common excavation and hard material/ rock excavation. Payment on excavation is to be made based on the method and equipments used. 6.1 Common Excavation 6.1.1 Common excavation shall mean excavation in any material other than hard material/ rock excavation. 6.2 Hard Material/ Rock Excavation 6.2.1 Hard material/ rock excavation shall mean excavation in any material that cannot be loosened by an excavator with a minimum mass of 44 tons and a minimum rating of 321 BHP. The excavator shall be in good condition, and operated by an experienced personnel skilled in the use of excavator equipment. Hard material/ rock excavation shall require one or a combination of the following methods:

i. Excavation using track excavator exceeding a mass of 44 tons and 321BHP rating. ii. Ripping using a tractor unit of minimum weight of 37 tons and 305 BHP rating and a ripper attached. iii. Excavation using hydraulic rock breaker. iv. Excavation using pneumatic tool. v. Open blasting vi. Controlled blasting. Excavation of boulders of individual mass less than 0.5m shall not be considered as rock but as common excavation. 6.2.2 Trial Excavation If it is apparent that common excavation as per clause 6.1.1 cannot be carried out, than the S.O may instruct the Contractor to submit his method statement to the S.O., based on his proposed method of excavation for approval. A trial excavation shall be carried out to verify and confirm the proposed method of excavation. The trial excavation shall be witnessed by the respective representatives of the Contractor and S.O. In the case where the method statement is rejected by the S.O., the Contractor shall submit a new method statement to the S.O. and the whole process of trial excavation shall be repeated to enable the S.O. to consider the new method statement for approval. 6.2.3 Method of Measurement Levels shall be taken before and after excavation, to calculate the volume for each method of excavation. Levels taken shall be subject to approval by the S.O. The levels taken shall be certified by the representatives of the Contractor and S.O, respectively. For determination of the volume of boulders, diameters in three orthogonal directions shall be taken at 2m intervals or lesser. The average of the three diameters shall be used to calculate the volume of boulder. Records of measurements and photographs shall be taken and kept to support the calculation of the volume of excavation. 6.2.4 Mechanical Equipment In Good Running Condition Prior to the execution of trial excavation, the Contractor shall furnish the following documents to the S.O as evidence that the excavator is in good running condition: i. A copy of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) performance handbook or catalogue, with details of the operating weight, BHP and maximum drawbar pull of the excavator.

ii. Relevant records showing that the excavator has been appropriately and routinely up-kept and adequately maintained in accordance with the recommendations of the OEMs schedule.

7. Excavation for Foundations, Pits and Trenches 7.1 Foundation trenches, pier holes, etc. shall be excavated to the levels and dimensions as shown in the Drawings, with sides trimmed and bottoms levelled and stepped as required. 7.2 All excavation shall be carried down to hard ground. On no account shall foundations rest on made or filled ground. The depths of foundation shall be decided on the site by the S.O., but for tendering purposes, unless otherwise shown in the Drawings, the Contractor shall assume the uniform overall depth 1.5m below formation level. Any variation to such depth, together with any variation caused thereby to concrete and brickwork, etc., shall be measured and valued as variations, as provided for in the Contract, and the Contract Sum shall be adjusted accordingly. The Contractor shall at his own cost and expense, make good any over excavation below the required depth with suitable material or concrete as approved by the S.O.

8. Sides of Excavation 8.1 The Contractor shall ensure that at all times, the sides of the excavation are maintained in a safe and stable condition, and shall be responsible for the adequate provision of all shoring and strutting including sheet piling required for this purpose. All temporary works shall comply with requirements of BS 5975.

9. Excavation To Be Kept Dry 9.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for keeping dry all excavations, whether in open cut or in trench, so as not to interfere with the work in progress. The Contractor shall, without extra cost to Government, provide, fix, maintain and work, as and when directed by the S.O., such pumps, wells, drains, dams and other things necessary to effectively deal with all water which may collect or find its way into the excavation from any cause whatsoever. Nevertheless, such directive shall not relieve the Contractor from his liability for any damage to the Works or adjoining land and property or water courses due to his operations.

10. Bottom of Excavation 10.1 Unless otherwise stated, the excavation, whether in open cut or in trench, shall be proceeded with in such portions at a time as the S.O. may approve, and shall not, in the first instance, be carried down to a depth nearer than 150mm above the required excavation level; the last 150mm of depth to the said level shall be carried out by manual labour immediately in advance of placing concrete. 10.2 Any pockets of soft material or loose rock in the bottom of pits and trenches shall be removed, and the resulting cavities and any large fissures filled with properly compacted blinding concrete (1:3:6). The Contractor shall take such steps as and when necessary, to prevent damage to the bottom of excavation due to exposure to the weather. After the placing of any blinding concrete, no trimming of the side faces shall be carried out for the next 24 hours. 11. Inspection 11.1 The Contractor shall report to the S.O. when the excavation are ready to receive concrete, and no concrete shall be laid until the excavation have been inspected and approved by the S.O.

12. Backfilling 12.1 A portion of the excavated material shall be returned, filled around walls, columns and the like in 225mm layers and each layer thoroughly compacted using rammers or mechanical compactors as the S.O. may approve, until compaction is complete. However, only suitable and approved fill materials shall be returned for backfilling. The surplus excavated materials shall be deposited, spread and levelled on site or elsewhere as approved. 12.2 Shoring used for the sides of the excavation shall be withdrawn in stages as the compaction of backfilling proceeds.

13. Cut and Fill To Formation Level 13.1 General Area for buildings, open spaces, fields, roads and footpaths shall be cut and filled to the required formation levels and grades as shown in the Drawings. Trimming and forming of banks shall be to the profiles as shown in the Drawings or as directed by the S.O. All ditches, ponds or wells that are to be filled shall first be excavated to remove all soft spots if so directed by the S.O. All excavated materials shall be removed from Site and the depressions including holes resulting from the grubbing of tree roots shall be filled with approved fill materials and well compacted.

Unless otherwise provided in the contract, if the fill materials obtainable from Site are insufficient, the Contractor shall at his own cost, obtain such materials from outside source. 13.2 Fill Materials 13.2.1 Only suitable materials such as medium stiff clay, clayey sand or other approved soils shall be used for filling. 13.2.2 Materials from swamps, peats or top soils and other highly organic clay or silt, materials containing logs, stumps or boulders, which are susceptible to combustion, and any other materials which, by virtue of their physical or chemical composition or at their moisture content will not compact properly, shall not be used for filling. 13.3 Spreading and Compacting 13.3.1 Prior to placing any fill upon any area, all clearing and grubbing operations shall have been completed. 13.3.2 All earth filling generally, shall be carried out in layers not exceeding 225mm thick loose layers. Each filling layer shall be thoroughly compacted by means of six (6) passes of a smooth wheel 6T roller or other approved compacting equipment. 13.3.3 Maximum use shall be made of earthmoving plants for initial compaction, and the Contractor shall be required to vary the routes uniformly to reduce tracking and to obtain uniform compaction over as wide an area as possible. 13.4 Finish to Formation Level 13.4.1 Unless otherwise shown in the Drawings, the upper surface of all platform shall be finished to a cross fall of 1:400 and where practicable, shall, in addition, be given a longitudinal fall to ensure rapid disposal of surface water. 13.4.2 For areas to be turfed, the formation shall be completed to an appropriate level below the finished level indicated, to allow for placement of top soil and turf. 13.5 Soft Spots 13.5.1 Where any undue movements due to the presence of soft unstable soil under the fill occur, or unsuitable material is encountered at the bottom of the fill, it shall be excavated to such depth and over such areas as approved by the S.O., and shall be removed to spoil. The resulting excavation shall be backfilled with suitable material as specified hereinbefore, and deposited in layers not exceeding 225mm thick and compacted as described above, or with compaction equipment suitable for working in small excavation.

13.5.2 The Contractor shall allow for settlement or displacement of fill over soft areas, and shall build up to the required finished level with necessary compaction. Should any settlement of fill occur during construction or within the Defects Liability Period, the Contractor shall make good the same at his own cost and expense.

14. Clearing of Existing Ditches, Drains, Rivers, etc. 14.1 During the execution of the earthwork, the Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to prevent blockage or obstruction, and to ensure free-flow of existing drains, ditches, streams and the like.

15. Protection and Maintenance of Earthworks 15.1 The Contractor shall provide all necessary protection and maintenance of earthwork, particularly from the damaging effects of water entering the works from rainfall, runoff, springs, rivers or streams. Damage to finished or partly completed work arising from the lack of such protection and maintenance work, shall be made good by the Contractor at his own cost and expense. 15.2 Where turfing is required for slope protection, they shall be planted immediately after the embankment is formed. The turfing shall be executed as specified hereinafter under SECTION N.4: LANDSCAPING AND TURFING. 15.3 If due to unforeseen circumstances turfing cannot be carried out immediately, temporary protection/cover (eg. plastic sheets or equivalent) shall be laid on exposed slopes by the Contractor.