Borehole Engineering Services for Roads and Highways

by | Oct 17, 2023

Roads and highways are an indispensable part of our daily routines. From driving to work to transporting goods across the country, our network of roads is crucial for transportation. Hence when highway failures occur, they can be infuriating; but at worst, they can also be exceptionally dangerous. They must be repaired quickly and efficiently to get people moving again as quickly as possible. As such, borehole engineering services are essential when it comes to maintaining our roads and highways.

Here at Borehole Solutions, a leading geotechnical drilling company in the UK, we regularly provide remedial work for all types of highway failures. This is why we would like to share with you the different types of work that may be required in motoring geotechnical drilling.

Repairing Geotechnical Faults

Cracks can develop in a road when the rock and soil beneath experience a landslip. These may initially be barely noticeable; however, cracks can grow to a substantial size over time and become dangerous if they’re not dealt with appropriately. What’s more, they’re worsened when exposed to the elements. Considering the rainy weather that we often see in the UK, it’s vital that these faults are spotted early.

Landslips are common in softer formations, such as sandstone. Borehole engineering services are used to extract core samples of the strata below the highway and examined to determine an appropriate course of action.

Identifying Buried Infrastructure

Our roads require constant maintenance to ensure they’re safe, reliable and in good working order. When an issue does occur, however, it’s important to consider what could be hidden below the surface. After all, you don’t want to be building a new carriageway to then stumble upon a major National Grid line!

Extensive planning is required prior to carrying out any borehole engineering services. This includes drilling exploratory holes to establish if there is any underground infrastructure and its exact location.

Stabilising Slopes

Any road that is constructed on uneven ground, such as a hillside, is considered to be unstable. This means an investigation is necessary to determine the viability when a new road is being developed. On the other hand, if maintenance work on a pre-existing road is required, then modular and restricted access drilling rigs can be used to navigate the tough terrain conditions.

National Highways

If you’re interested in finding out more about roadworks going on in your area, click here to visit National Highways for up-to-date information.

Contact Borehole Solutions

Early detection and a proactive response are a must when it comes to working with roads and highways. That’s why is essential to use a trusted contractor, such as Borehole Solutions, for any remedial and maintenance work.

For more information about our borehole engineering services and geotechnical drilling solutions, get in touch today on 01733 200501 or email us at info@boreholesolutions.com.