San Juan County, Utah, has begun using a new road repaving process, aiming to repair broken roads at a lower cost to say within state budget constraints. According to an article in the St. George News, instead of repaving the traditional, expensive way, officials decided to use an alternative process developed by Lithified Technologies.
To do this, the existing road’s asphalt layer was broken up and pulverized using a large road reclaimer, the article reports. A second truck then followed behind, dispersing a chemical consisting of existing soil, road base, and failing asphalt to create a foundation meant to extend wear surface life. Afterward, a third truck sprayed a layer of water over the road.
The road surface was then compacted and shaped using rollers and heavy equipment to create what looks like a gravel road. Afterward, the road was covered with a double-chip seal-- a layer of oil with chips embedded into it. Once the materials have set for 24 hours, the surface was swept clean and ready for a second single-chip seal as a final covering.
According to the article, traditional road resurfacing would have cost about $1.3 million per mile, whereas the Lithified Technologies process cost about $175,000 per mile.
Source: St. George News
