Recent restructuring of Canadian transportation has significantly increased commercial truck traffic on many rural roads in Saskatchewan, Canada. This increased traffic is having a detrimental effect on performance of the approximately 175,000 centerline kilometers of gravel roads collectively managed by provincial road agencies. The depletion of quality aggregate sources in many Saskatchewan regions is a primary contributor to the detrimental performance. Preservation and optimization of gravel are therefore becoming critical in sustaining an effective and efficient rural road system. Saskatchewan road agencies spend tens of millions of dollars per year purchasing gravel for the gravel road system. Even minor improvements in gravel optimization could significantly reduce the amount of gravel required for an acceptable level of service and save millions of dollars per year for taxpayers. A study was undertaken to quantify typical gravel supply and demand characteristics in Saskatchewan, the factors influencing gravel loss, and innovative means of gravel road preservation. Several rural municipalities were interviewed on their gravel road preservation practices and gravel supply and demand. Test sections were constructed to evaluate relationships between gravel loss and heavy truck loadings and to investigate innovative gravel preservation techniques. The study determined that most rural municipalities suffer from aggregate shortages. Gravel with a larger top size took longer to break down, and higher gravel application rates reduced gravel displacement. Ionic stabilization of gravel roads improved gravel retention and reduced dust, and shoulder reclamation with commercial rock rakes could recover gravel from roadside slopes for reapplication to the road surface. This paper is also available on CD-ROM (see C 30152 CD-ROM).
Abstract