Page 196 - Moving the Earth_ The Workbook of Excavation

BASEMENTS

4.36 THE WORK

If two shovels are used, one can work on each level. The upper
one should work across to the east side and finish it first, so that the
one on the lower level can work in without cutting it off.
It is unlikely that a backhoe would be used on such a job, except in
removing the ramp, unless mud conditions are encountered. Sometimes
soft footing can be economically handled by surfacing the truck road with
gravel, crushed stone, or dry fill.
Bottom Access. It may be possible to arrange for the movement of
machinery and trucks into the lower end of the lot, as in Fig. 4.31. A
bulldozer may then cut a truck road and turn around into one side of
the lot. Loaded trucks will now move downhill, and maximum loads
can be carried.
It may be difficult for the empty trucks to turn on the slope and
to back uphill, particularly in sloppy going. If the shovel first digs a FIGURE 4.30 Second cut.
wide shelf as in Fig. 4.31, the trucks can turn on it, and another road-
way can be graded later for exit so that no uphill backing will be necessary.

Cut and Fill Digging. Figure 4.32 shows the same sloping lot with a retaining wall built along
its back lines. The spoil from the basement is to be used to fill up to this wall for parking area.
A front shovel and trucks may still be effectively used for the digging, but the short haul makes
possible the use of other machines.

FIGURE 4.31 Slope with rear access. FIGURE 4.32 Filling against retaining wall.