When Howell Environmental arrived at the Westwood Ridge site in Coatesville in late 2023, the existing site was freshly harvested farmland with a gradual steep slope coming from Valley Road. Today, construction for the proposed 87 single-family homes is well underway, starting with stormwater basin installation and mass grading with cuts and fills up to 30 feet.

Before any construction activity, Howell Environmental was on site to drill borings and provide a geotechnical report for the proposed construction. In addition to determining soil types, boreholes are used to determine the depth of the groundwater table and the depth of lithic bedrock, both of which can have major cost implications for the site work.

After drilling, various lab tests were performed on the collected samples, including moisture content, Atterberg limits, sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, and standard and modified proctor tests. The proctor tests are crucial when dealing with mass grading on site, and the results provide Howell with the optimal density and moisture content of the site material, which is used for site inspections to ensure compaction requirements.

Site work began in mid-July 2024, and Howell has been on site for continuous oversight, including installation of stormwater management facilities, mass grading, and compaction testing. Site inspectors ensure the excavated material is suitable for backfill, testing backfill after compaction with a nuclear density gauge. Our team uses the proctor results in conjunction with density testing to ensure backfill requirements are met.

With Howell on-site, inspectors are always available to provide quick and accurate recommendations when something unforeseen occurs, avoiding delays in construction. Trust Howell to ensure that all construction requirements are met or exceeded from start to finish.

Westwood Ridge Site – September 11, 2024