Dusty road

[John Reber]

Our community has approximately 3.2 miles of dirt roads which over the years, maintenance has consisted of purchasing old road milling's and spreading them over the road and rolling them in with a big roller. Now there is a movement afoot to have the roads paved, which I'm mostly against. In my view it will cause more speeding through the community and will be hot to walk on or along in the summer.

A legitimate complaint I see from those who want it paved, is the amount of dust generated by traffic on these roads. I'm looking for alternative solutions that would alleviate the dust problem, but not involve paving over the roads.

thanks in advance

[charlie]

there's a tree sap product that my city uses on dirt roads to cut dust. it works ok, but we're also in the desert and don't get rain very often.

regards, charlie cave creek, az

[Sandy]

Our Township offers calcium chloride in the spring. They offer to spread it (for a fee) on the road in front of houses to keep the dust down so you can enjoy your home and yard without getting blasted with dust when someone drives by. I notice that when I'm driving down the dirt road, the portions that have the calcium chloride spread on are dust-free and much smoother than the portions of the road that were not treated. The road grader doesn't have to grade those portions as often. I wish they would put that stuff on the entire road. Here in MN it has to be applied each spring. Here is a link with more information.

Sandy

[jmagerl]

My township used to oil the road and cover with a course sand (so the oil wouldnt stick to your tires) The sun, traffic and dust combined over the course of a summer to form a crude kind of asphalt topping. Would last for

2 or three years depending on winter heave and than they would do it again. IF you object to using old oil, there is a soybean oil that is used for the same purpose

[Meat Plow]

Here in NE Oh where the rural countryside is peppered with shallow gas and oil wells the local government allowed the spreading/spraying of brine water (mixed with crude oil then separated once in the holding tank and drained off.) for dust control. This worked reasonably well as the brine has a tendency to glue the contents of the road surface together. And it didn't cost anything actually saving the operator costs from pumping the brine down a disposal well.

[dpb]

I think EPA has put a clamp on that -- at least that's what the County here is saying is the reason they no longer allow the brine disposal usage here...

--

[Meat Plow]

Could be, this was a few years back when I owned some wells.

[dpb]

Of course, at the same time, as somebody else noted they still use CaCl an other stuff all the time and _that_ doesn't offend anybody... :(

On the oil on road, I ran the County guys off enough times when they would try it here they finally gave it up -- it's not bad when it's dry, but come wet spell it makes the top surface slick as soap on glass.

Of course, the daxxed red Okie clay "red gravel" they've hauled up here and spread out in the low spots is even worse -- had several times this spring if hadn't had the four-wheeler don't think could have made it back to the house from town up the couple of small hills w/o just going out into the ditch or the field -- simply too slick to keep it in the road w/ enough speed up to make the top of the hill -- and that's w/ a pretty doggone minimal hill height by anybody's except W KS standards. :( I gave 'em enough of a ration over that they've hauled enough good old KS sand back in on top of it to at least make it passable although since it's not rained enough to be more than a spit since end of June...

[willshak]

on 9/14/2007 11:29 AM John Reber said the following:

Both arguments are weak. Are these private roads or public roads? Are these roads within a community that has limited access? Who is paying for the maintenance and paving of the roads, the highway department or the residents of the community? Why would the paved roads invite speeders, unless it is a shortcut that no one uses now because it's not paved. Unless your community walks on the road barefoot, the temp of the road will not matter. I have a lot of people taking their morning runs along the roads in my community. But they wear running shoes.

1. Oil
2. Calcium chloride spread on the roadway. Requires 2 or 3 treatments a year.

[mike]

I live on a paved road that doesn't really go anywhere except to a few homes. It's no shortcut to anywhere, but amazingly we still have idiots speeding down our road. Some wide but shallow speedbumps probably would cure that, as long as they are just past MY driveway, of course. :)

Otherwise I hate speedbumps.

[John Reber]

It's a private community with limited access maintained by the residents. I'm not concerned about outsiders speeding through the community, it's the kids that can't now because the road is too bumpy. I walk down to the beach barefoot all the time as do others. I walk my dogs on these roads and they don't wear shoes either.

Oil's already been rejected. Calcium chloride sounds interesting.

[willshak]

Speed bumps.

I never saw a dog complain about a hot road. Besides, they should be walking off the side of the road in case they have to do their business. Dog trainers teach dog owners how to have their dogs 'heel' on the left side. When you are walking on a roadway, you should be facing traffic, therefore your dog would be on your left, near, or beyond the edge of the roadway (does not apply in the UK, Japan, or other countries where they drive on the 'wrong' side). :-)

[terry]

Do you know why they (based on British practice) drive on the left? Reason: Most people are and have been for centuries right handed. So when passing another person (especially a stranger) either on horseback or walking on narrow trails etc. it was safest to pass to the left making it easier to grab or carry your sword or other weapon in your right hand!

[johny reb]

Why is there always one asshole like you that is against progress?

[John Reber]

My rottie on a hot summer day, looked like she was doing the pee dance until I mmoved her off the blacktop.

[John Reber]

Because there's always some asshole who wants to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.