The results of a laboratory investigation on the influence of compactive efforts (British Standard Light, BSL; West African Standard WAS, and the British Standard Heavy BSH) and compaction delays up to 3 hours on a compaction characteristics and shear strength parameter of bagasse ash modified laterite from Zaria are presented A decrease in maximum dry density (MDD) and increase in optimum moisture content (OMC) were observed with higher bagasse ash content. MDD was observed to increase with delay in compaction while OMC was observed to decrease with delay in compaction (elapsed time). The determination of properties of bagasse ash modified laterite at no compaction delay defines the optimum properties of soil-bagasse ash mixtures, while the properties obtained after compaction delays defines the minimum that can be achieved in the field for the specified elapsed times between mixing and compaction. The trend observed from the scatter graph of the shear strength parameters indicate a reduction in cohesion and an increase in angle of internal friction with higher bagasse ash contents.
