Abstract:
A SIXTEEN-YEAR PERFORMANCE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF CALCIUM- CHLORIDE-TREATED GRAVEL ROADS. A GRAVEL LOSS OF 23.5 CU. YD. PER MI. PER YR. FOR ROADS CARRYING FROM 41 TO 216 VEHICLES PER DAY WAS SHOWN. COMPARING THIS WITH LOSS REPORTED BY OTHERS FOR UNTREATED GRAVEL ROADS, IT APPEARS LOGICAL TO ASSUME A SAVING OF AT LEAST 50 CU. YD. OF GRAVEL PER MI. PER YR. BY MAINTENANCE WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE. SAVINGS IN ANNUAL BLADING COSTS ARE ALSO REPORTED. THE CALCIUM-CHLORIDE, TREATED ROADS ARE STABLE IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND AT SIMILAR DRIVING SPEEDS PROVIDE A DEGREE OF SECURITY AND SAFETY EQUAL TO THAT PROVIDED BY OTHER TYPE SURFACES. A BRIEF HISTORY IS PRESENTED OF THE GRAVEL ROADS AND THE MEASUREMENTS MADE IN THIS PERFORMANCE STUDY. MAINTENANCE PRACTICES ON THESE ROADS ARE REVIEWED SHOWING: (1) THE CLEANING CULVERTS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES, (2) THE MAINTENANCE OF A SMOOTH MODIFIED A-SHAPED CROWN OF AT LEAST 0.5 IN. PER FT. TO PERMIT RAPID DRAINAGE OF SURFACE WATER TO THE DITCHES, (3) THE MAINTENANCE OF A CONSOLIDATED SURFACE FREE FROM FLOATING MATERIAL, AND (4) THE TREATMENT WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE AS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A COMPACTED MOIST SURFACE.
Supplemental Notes:
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