What is one reason for using moisture-conditioned soil during construction?

Using moisture-conditioned soil during construction is primarily beneficial for improving compaction. When soil is properly moisture-conditioned, the water content is adjusted to an optimal level that enhances the soil's ability to compact effectively. This is crucial because well-compacted soil provides a stable foundation, reduces the risk of settlement, and ensures that the soil can support the intended loads of the structure being built.

Moisture aids in reducing friction between soil particles, allowing them to move closer together more easily during the compaction process. This optimal condition helps achieve the desired density and strength of the soil, which is essential for the performance and longevity of the structures built on it.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary benefits of moisture-conditioning. While increasing soil weight may occur inadvertently or through other means, it is not a main goal of moisture conditioning. Similarly, enhancing soil drainage is not typically an aim of moisture conditioning; instead, proper moisture levels can actually help maintain adequate drainage when focused on compaction. Lastly, reducing the life expectancy of infrastructure is contrary to the goals of construction best practices; conditioning soil properly, through careful moisture management, is intended to enhance, not detract from, the durability of the built environment.