In this study, the relationship between Index Property and Swelling characteristic ofrnExpansive soil of Bahir Dar is examined.rnThe test results showed that the Specific Gravity ranges from 2.55 to 2.81. The IndexrnProperty Test showed that Plasticity Index ranges from 44.5 to 76.42%. The clay contentrnof the soil is from 55.4 to 87%. Free Swell tests conducted on the collected samplesrnshowed a range from 78 to 215%.rnAccording to the Unified Soil Classification System. The soil is categorized as Fat orrnOrganic Clay with a potential of expansion.rnAASHTO Classification System also shows that the soil is Plastic Clay with high volumernchange capacity.rnThe dry density of the soil, which samples were taken from, ranges between 1.04 andrn1.39 gm/cc. Another test conducted using one-dimensional consolidometer showed thatrnthe Swelling Pressure of the area ranges between 75.95 and 547.52 kpa.rnRelationship observed between Index Property and swelling characteristic of the arearnshowed that with the increment of clay content in the soil the Plasticity Index, the CationrnExchange Capacity and the w max 24 is increased. The increment of the Plasticity Index isrnin turn reflected in increasing the swelling pressure of the soil.rnDry Density of the soil also increases the swelling pressure. On the other hand NaturalrnMoisture content affects the swelling pressure negatively.rnA single Index Property is not a reliable means of predicting the swelling pressure of thernsoil while a better estimation is observed when different Index Properties are involved inrnprediction the swelling pressurernThe relation of (w max 24/w)*gd or (w max 24/w) with swelling pressure showed arnbetter indicative value than the PI for the study area.rn-------------------------------- 92