For the problem that the embankment reserved settlement after construction cannot be predicted accurately in Yangtze estuary soft soil area，a series of one-dimensional consolidation tests were conducted to study the consolidation and secondary consolidation characteristics of silt soft soil in the Yangtze estuary,and to explore compression index,secondary consolidation coefficient and the relationship between the coefficient of secondary consolidation of soft soil and load.The results show that the compressibility index of soft soil in the Yangtze River estuary is smaller than that of typical Shanghai soft soil.The soft soil in this area has obvious secondary consolidation characteristics,and the secondary consolidation coefficient of silt soft soil in the Yangtze estuary is 0.01~0.025.The secondary consolidation coefficient of soft soil first increases and then decreases with the increase of load.A method for predicting settlement of embankment after construction considering secondary consolidation is put forward.The results of the test and the settlement prediction method after construction have certain guiding significance for settlement analysis of embankment after construction in the soft soil area of the Yangtze estuary.