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Geotechnical probes find undocumented fill under high‑school parking lot; selective excavation likely
Summary
The district’s contractor reported probes found about 12 inches of undocumented fill beneath parts of the high‑school parking lot; a geotechnical engineer will monitor selective excavation and compaction and the project may use contingency funds for unexpected work.
At the Sheridan SD 48J school committee meeting, the contractor, Scott, reported geotechnical testing found roughly a foot (about 12 inches) of undocumented fill beneath parts of the high‑school parking lot.
Scott said the geotechnical team performed probes and determined that some areas will require removal of the top 12 inches of material and replacement with structural fill, while other areas may be ground and recompacted rather than fully excavated. A geotechnical engineer will monitor excavation so the contractor can limit removals where possible, proof‑roll questionable areas and selectively excavate only where needed.
Scott warned that this work could require use of the project contingency, noting that excavation and replacement of undocumented fill is typically more expensive than surface repairs. He described the approach as strategic — targeting only the areas that fail compaction criteria rather than removing additional material unnecessarily.
Why it matters: The geotechnical findings could increase project scope, cost and schedule for the parking‑lot work. Committee members asked for clarity on the decision process and monitoring; Scott said the geotechnical engineer will be on site during excavation and compaction testing.
What’s next: Geotechnical monitoring will continue during excavation; the committee will receive updates on any cost or schedule impacts that arise from required excavation and replacement.
