In this study, an effort to improve the properties and strength of soil, sewage sludge ash (SSA) and hydrated lime are applied to stabilize soft cohesive subgrade soil. Five different ratios (in weight percentage), 0%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 16%, of sludge ash/hydrated lime are proposed for mixture with cohesive soil. Then, the effects of the different proportions of SSA/hydrated lime on soft cohesive soil are studied. Test results indicate that the unconfined compressive strength of specimens with additives was raised from three to seven times better than that of the untreated soil, and swelling behaviors were also effectively reduced for those specimens. Results of triaxial compression test indicate that the shear strength parameter, c, rose with an increased amount of additives and improved from 30 to 50-70 kPa. On the whole, SSA/hydrated lime could particularly improve the geotechnical properties of cohesive subgrade soil. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.