Clay is an unpredictable material to build on. And a lot of water, as well as a little water, makes the problems worse. Both scenarios increase the risk of subsidence. And with climate change, both heavier downpours and longer dry periods await.
The municipality carried out geotechnical investigations before the construction of the Konghälla center and were aware of the upcoming settlements, but the ground has sunk a little more than they thought.
– Yes, here it has perhaps dropped a little more than we thought it would now at the very beginning, says Amela Keserović.
Must take action
What do you think about it?
– I think we will have to wait and see how it will continue, often it tends to drop more at the beginning and then it usually decreases. In the meantime, we have to take measures to try to get a better level between the street and the houses.
There is no danger that the houses will become unstable from the settlements, because they are piled.
It is quite expensive to fix settlements?
– Yes, everything costs money to fix, but that’s usually the case when you’re building on clay.
New neighborhood under way
Despite the difficulties with building on clay and the climate changes, a completely new district is planned about 500 meters from Kongahälla center, down by the river where the old biscuit factory is located. The project is called Kexstaden.