The article presents the application of finite element method for estimating settlements of road embankments founded on the soil reinforced with vertical drains and preloading method. The ideaof the method was the transition from the solution of one-dimensional consolidation proposed for two-dimensional solution, while maintaining the same consolidation time and comparison withresults obtained from measurements settlements of road embankment which is a part of planned Gdańsk Southern Ring Road near Przejazdowo site.