Several hundred million cubic yards of sediment are dredged from various U.S. ports,

harbors, and waterways annually to maintain and improve the nation’s navigation system

for commercial, national defense, and recreational purposes. The United States

Environmental Protection Agency mandated containment of dredged sediments in

designated containment facilities. For several years, the Maryland Environmental Service

is building and operating dredged material confinement facilities. Due to high operation

and maintenance costs, Maryland Dredged Material Management Program aims to

repurpose the material for various uses. The current study aims to explore the use of

sediments dredged from Chesapeake Bay as a potential highway embankment material.

Geotechnical analysis is coupled with environmental assessment in order to ensure

satisfactory performance of the dredged materials as an embankment fill attributed with

no potential environmental ramifications. It is essential to quantify performance and

environmental impacts before initiating large scale construction using dredged materials

and this study aims to explore these requirements.