The use of special features to permit embankment construction over soft bay mud is reported. These features included reinforcing fabric, lightweight fill (sawdust), and vertical wick drains, a system that allows construction to proceed on schedule without major foundation failures. An instrumented test embankment that incorporates these features was constructed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in 1979 at the bridge head of the east approach to the new Dumbarton Bridge. The successful performance of the test embankment provided data for developing specifications for construction of the 2.4-mile embankment contract across the soft bay mud deposits. The fabric provided initial support over the bay mud, lightweight fill reduced loading to ensure ultimate stability, and vertical wick drains accelerated foundation consolidation, which allowed up to 7 ft of settlement to occur in 1 year as opposed to about 50 years under the same loading with normal drainage conditions. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wick drains were found to be 40-50 percent as efficient as Alidrains in accelerating consolidation. Their efficiency increased with greater hydrostatic pressures. Instrumentation monitored and controlled the rate of embankment placement. These special features were successful in maintaining stability during construction that would not have been possible by the use of conventional construction techniques.(Author)