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Executive Summary
Many road construction projects require that traffic must be maintained during construction. This requires that public and construction vehicles drive on unpaved road surfaces. The duration that the vehicles have to drive on the unpaved road surface varies from hours to several months depending on size of the project and construction schedule. Dust generated from the traffic during road construction can impact traffic safety. The dust can significantly reduce sight visibility below the AASHTO minimum stopping sight distance and also pose a health hazard to workers in the vicinity of the construction project.
SI (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors Page
Current Alaska DOT/PF practice for temporary dust control on highway construction projects is to periodically apply water to the gravel road surface. For relatively hot dry (70 degrees F & 40% relative humidity) weather, the road needs to be watered every 20-25 minutes to maintain acceptable visibility for traffic safety. The primary disadvantages of this practice are the high cost and the difficulty in scheduling construction equipment for the application frequency necessary to minimize the level of dust for adequate sight distance.
The primary objective of this research project is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using long term dust palliatives at a reduced application rate to provide temporary dust control on road construction projects. Nine test sections were constructed to evaluate three dust palliatives (Freedom Binder 400, Durasoil, and Soiltac) at three different application rates required for three different performance periods – 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month.
In addition, the hand held DustTrak II Model 8532 and the UAF-DUSTM aerosol monitors were evaluated as tools to determine the levels of dust concentration for enforcement of construction contract specifications.
The conclusions of this project are:
Table – Application Rates (gal/sft)
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF) and AUTC. The authors thank Jason hill, Errol Masters, Guan Griffin, Jim Sweeney and James (Trip) Collier for their valuable assistance on the project. The authors would also like to thank the dust palliative suppliers – Freedom Industries and Soilworks, LLC for their technical support. The authors would also like to thank the construction crew for Cruz Construction for their assistance in building the test sections.
Table of Contents Page
Introduction
Many road construction projects require that traffic must be maintained during construction. This requires that public and construction vehicles drive on unpaved road surfaces. The duration that the vehicles have to drive on the unpaved road surface varies from hours to several months depending on size of the project and construction schedule.
Dust generated from the traffic during road construction can impact traffic safety. The dust can significantly reduce sight visibility below the AASHTO minimum stopping sight distance. (The sight stopping distance is the distance that a vehicle travels from the time that the driver identifies a hazard to the time that the vehicle stops and is primarily dependent on vehicle speed.) The dust can also pose a health hazard to the workers and the public in the vicinity of the construction project.
Current Alaska DOT/PF practice for temporary dust control on highway construction projects is to periodically apply water to the gravel road surface. For a relatively hot dry (70 degrees F, min. humidity – 40%) day, the road needs to be watered every 20-25 minutes to maintain acceptable visibility for traffic safety. (Appendix B) The water is commonly applied to the road surface with tanker trucks equipped with splash plates that are also used to facilitate compaction of the roadway embankment. The water can usually be obtained in either streams, lakes or fire hydrants located near the project. The Alaska DOT/PF Standard Specifications for Highway Construction has provisions for using calcium chloride for dust control (Section 634 – Calcium Chloride for Dust Control). However, calcium chloride is primarily only used at the end of the first construction on multi-season projects to provide dust control during winter shutdown.
The primary advantages of watering for temporary dust control are: 1) equipment (water truck) that is commonly used for other construction activities on the project; 2) applied with minimal impact to traffic; 3) does not require special traffic control or lane closures during application; 4) frequency of application can be adjusted for weather conditions, traffic levels and project requirements; and 5) can be applied quickly on short notice. The primary disadvantages of this practice are the high cost and the difficulty in scheduling construction equipment for the application frequency necessary to maintain a minimal level of dust. If the water is not applied in a timely manner, there are periods when the dust reduces the sight distance below acceptable levels.
For long term dust control on gravel roads, the Alaska DOT/PF primarily uses calcium chloride. Although calcium chloride is a relative inexpensive and effective long term dust control palliative, it requires significant effort with graders and compaction equipment to blend the calcium chloride into the top 4 inches of the road surface. Calcium chloride is also is corrosive to vehicles and equipment
Due to the corrosive nature to aircraft, calcium chloride cannot be used on gravel runways. For long term dust control on rural airports, Alaska DOT/PF has used a variety of non-corrosive dust palliatives including EK-35, Permazyme, Soilsement and Durasoil.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks in-conjunction with Alaska DOT/PF is currently conducting the related research project – “Development of an Alaskan Specification for Palliative Application on Unpaved Roads and Runways” – to evaluate the effectiveness of these non- corrosive dust palliatives on rural gravel roads and runways.
Objective
The primary objective of this research project is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using dust palliatives to provide temporary dust control on road construction projects. If this study determines that dust palliatives are a viable alternative to the current practice of watering, a performance specification will be developed for the use of dust palliatives as temporary dust control for construction projects.
In addition, this research project also:
Project Scope
The scope of this project is to:
Factors Affecting the Quantity of Dust Generated by Vehicles
Vehicles traveling on unpaved roads generate significant dust plumes by pulverizing the gravel surface material and lofting the material into the air. Key factors that affect the dust emission rates include:
This is consistent with a study conducted as part of this research project and presented in Appendix A. For this study, the maximum measured dust concentration for a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck increased by 123% between 30 MPH and 45 MPH.
Dust Palliative Test Section
To evaluate the economic feasibility, construction feasibility and effectiveness of using dust palliatives for temporary dust control on road construction projects, a series of test sections were incorporated as part of the Tok Cutoff; MP 0-2 and MP 5-24 project. Three dust palliatives (Freedom Binder 400, Soiltac and Durasoil) were applied to the unpaved surface at three different application rates. The application rates were selected by the respective palliative suppliers to provide dust control for 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month periods.
Dust Palliatives
Freedom Binder 400 – Freedom Binder 400 is a tall-oil pitch emulsion. The Freedom Binder 400 can be applied by a water truck with either a splash plate or a spray bar. Application with a spray bar provides a more uniform application and minimizes the overspray.To facilitate uniform application, the Freedom Binder 400 is mixed with water at a 4:1 ratio. The rate of application of the Freedom Binder 400 was controlled by a flow meter and the speed of the distributor.
The cost of the Freedom Binder 400 FOB Palmer is approximately $8.22 per gallon. The supplier is located in Palmer, Alaska. The Freedom Binder 400 can be shipped in 275 gallon totes.
The manufacturer’s recommended undiluted application rate for secondary roads with light traffic is .028 gal/sft (36 sft/gal). For roads with heavy truck traffic the undiluted application rate is .04 gal/sft (25 sft/gal) or two separate applications of .028 gal/sft (36 sft/gal). For the test sections, the Freedom Binder 400 was placed in four equal coats at the following undiluted application rates:
Table 1 – Application Rates for Freedom Binder (gal/sft)
Durasoil – Durasoil is synthetic organic liquid that cannot be diluted with water. The Durasoil does not cure and can be applied and reworked in freezing or wet conditions. The Durasoil can be applied by a water truck with either a splash plate or a spray bar. Application with a spray bar provides a more uniform application and minimizes the overspray. The road surface must be dry and below optimum moisture content to the desired treatment depth to ensure full penetration, proper coating of the aggregate and to prevent flooding. The Durasoil is placed in two equal applications. No cure time is necessary prior to applying the second coat of Durasoil. The rate of application of the Durasoil was controlled by the speed of the distributor. Traffic can travel on the Durasoil immediately after it is applied.
The cost of the Durasoil FOB Anchorage is approximately $9.75 per gallon and can be shipped in 275 gallon totes. The Durasoil is shipped from Arizona and requires approximately 2 week transit time before application.
The manufacturer’s recommended undiluted application rate for unpaved roads is .030 gal/sft (30 sft/gal) and .050 gal/sft (20 sft/gal) for unpaved tank trails. For the test section, the Durasoil was placed in two equal coats with the following total application rates:
Table 2 – Application Rates for Durasoil (gal/sft)
Soiltac – Soiltac is an environmentally safe biodegradable copolymer based emulsion. The copolymer coalesces to form bonds that bind the aggregates and fines together to form a durable and water resistant matrix. To facilitate uniform application, the Soiltac is normally mixed with water at a 6:1 ratio for topical road application. The Soiltac can be applied by a water truck with either a splash plate or a spray bar. Application with a spray bar provides a more uniform application and minimizes overspray.
The Soiltac was placed in four equal coats. Each successive coat of Soiltac dilution should be applied in a timely manner to ensure that the surface always stays wet. The Soiltac cannot be allowed to dry between applications – approximately 20 minutes. However, due to traffic considerations, the Soiltac cured only approximately 5 minutes before the succeeding coats were applied. The last coat was allowed to cure approximately 2 hours prior to opening the road for traffic.
The cost of the Soiltac FOB Anchorage is approximately $9.25 per gallon. Since there currently is no supplier in Alaska, the Soiltac is shipped from Arizona and requires approximately 2 week lead time before applying the product. The Soiltac is typically shipped in 275 gallon totes.
The manufacturer’s recommended undiluted application rate is .0154 gal/sft (65 sft/gal) for roads with high traffic; .0167 gal/sft (60 sft/gal) for heavy haul roads and mining roads; and .0067 gal/sft (150 sft/gal) for temporary roads and detours. For the test sections, the undiluted application rates were:
Table 3 – Application Rates for Soiltac (gal/sft)
Test Site Description
The test sections were incorporated into the Tok Cutoff MP 0-2 and MP 5-24 Resurfacing project. The test sites were located between MP 22 to 24 of the Tok Cutoff Highway – approximately 35 miles northeast of Glennallen. The scope of this construction project is to reconstruct the Tok Cutoff Highway by:
Figure 1 – Layout of Test Sections
Test Section Construction
Prior to applying the dust palliatives, the Crushed Aggregate Base Course (CABC) on the road surface was scarified and graded to a 2% – 3% cross slope. The CABC was compacted to 98% to 100% density. The moisture content ranged from 1.9% to 3.4%. Although it had rained the previous day, the road surface had dried sufficiently to require watering to control dust.
The CABC is a non-plastic 1” minus material. The percentage of CABC passing the #200 sieve varied from 3.7% to 4.9%. The CABC was in conformance with the following gradation specification:
Table 4 – CABC Gradation Specification
The test sections were located at the east end of the project. The material source was located east of the project. The placement of the CABC started at the east end and moved to the west. This resulted in approximately 200 to 250 gravel trucks (80-85 tons) traveling daily through the test sections.
All of the dust palliatives were transported to the project in 275 gallon totes. The dust palliatives were transferred to a 2,000 gallon tank on a flatbed truck where the Soiltac and Freedom Binder 400 were mixed with water (Figure 2). All of the palliatives were placed on the road surface with a 15 long spray bar (Figure 3).
To allow application of the palliatives and sufficient time for curing, one lane was closed to traffic. A pilot car was used to direct traffic around the test sections. Since the lane closure would disrupt the hauling of the CABC material, the installation of the test sections was done on Sunday – when the trucks were not hauling CABC. (Note: If the placement of the CABC had started at the west end of the project and moved east, the gravel trucks would not have had to travel through the single lane closure area which would have allowed the application of the palliatives to occur at any time – independent of the truck haul.)
Figure 2 – Mixing Palliative with Water
Figure 3 – Applying the Palliatives with a 15’ Spray Bar
Placement of the palliatives was started at 8:00 AM and was completed at 11:20 PM. Single lane traffic was maintained until 12:30 AM the next day for a total of 16.5 hours of pilot car traffic control required to construct the nine 1,000 fo0ot long test sections.
Performance
Within hours after the test sections were opened to traffic, the Durasoil was picked up by vehicle tires and tracked on to the adjacent Soiltac and Freedom Binder 400 test sections. The only portions of the test sections not tracked by the Dursoil were the eastbound lanes of test sections 3C and 3B. It is not known why the Durasoil tracked.
Test sections 3A, 3B and 3C with the lowest application rate needed to be watered within 2 days after the initial application instead of the projected 7 days. (Figures #4 – #6) The test sections for the medium (2A, 2B and 2C) and the high application rates (1A, 1B and 1C) needed to be watered 4 days after the initial application – significantly quicker than the projected 14 & 28 days.
Figure 4 – Section 3A – 7/18/2011 – One day after application of Durasoil. (Note the difference in levels of dust generated by the two vehicles traveling at the same speed)
Figure 5 – Section 3B – 7/18/2011 – One Day after application of Soiltac
Figure 6 – Section 3C – 7/18/2011 – One Day after application of Freedom Binder 400
Cost Comparison
The Alaska DOT/PF pays the Contractor $20 per 1,000 gal for watering as a Contingent Sum Item. For Contingent Sum Items, the price is set by the Alaska DOT/PF prior to bidding. The Alaska DOT/PF directs the Contractor on when and how often to apply water based on weather and traffic conditions. For a relatively hot (70 degrees) dry day, the road needed to be watered every 20-25 minutes to maintain acceptable visibility for traffic safety. (Appendix B) For the Tok Cut-off MP 0-2 and 5-24 Resurfacing project, a total of 9,210,000 gallons of water (219,285 gallons per lane mile) was used for temporary dust control during the 2011 construction season. The total cost is $184,190 ($4,385 per lane mile).
The following table compares the cost of watering and the material cost of one application of the palliatives at the three application rates used for the test sections. The cost of the equipment and traffic control for applying the palliatives was not included in the cost comparison. For comparison, the cost of applying Calcium Chloride as a dust palliative is $6,000 per lane mile.
Table 4 – Cost Comparison of Watering and Palliatives
Evaluation of Aerosol Monitors for Contract Enforcement
The feasibility of two aerosol monitors were evaluated for contract enforcement – hand held DustTrak II Model 8532 and UAF-DUSTM with the DustTrak II Model 8530.
The DustTrak II aerosol monitors measure the concentration of particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or smaller (PM10). Concentrations of PM10 are determined based on the sampled airstream’s opacity. Concentrations are measured every second and recorded to the internal memory. Each test period is automatically logged into a separate file.
For the UAF-DUSTM, the aerosol monitor is enclosed in a protective case attached to the rear of an ATV. Flexible plastic tubing connects the aerosol monitor to an intake structure positioned 14 inches behind the tire and 14 inches above the ground surface. The intake is held in place by three rigid aluminum tubes to resist longitudinal, lateral, and vertical motion. As the ATV is driven across the test section, the concentration of PM10 generated by the rear tire is recorded every second. Environmental conditions during testing are recorded using a Kestrel 4500 Weather Meter. A GPS data logger tracks the location and speed of the ATV.
Conclusions
Table – Application Rates for Durasoil and Soiltac (gal/sft)
Recommendations for Future Research
References
Gilles, J. A., Etyemezian, V., Kuhns, H., Nikolic, D., Gillette, D. A., 2005. Effects of Vehicle Characteristics on Unpaved Road Dust Emission, Atmospheric Environment 39, p 2341-2347.
Kuhns, H., Etyemezian, V., Landwehr, D., MacDougall C., Pitchford, M., Green, M., 2005. Testing Re-entrained Aerosol Kinetic Emissions from Roads (TRAKER): a New Approach to Infer Silt Loading on Roadways, Atmospheric Environment 39, p 2815-2825.
Rushing, J. F., Moore, V., Tingle, J., Mason, Q., McCaffery, T., 2005. Dust Abatement Methods for Lines of Communication and Base Camps in Temperate Climates, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U. S. Army Corps of Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Succarieh, Mohamad, 1992. Control Dust Emissions from Unpaved Roads, Transportation Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Appendix A
Vehicle Speed Effects on Dust
Dust concentration levels generated by a pickup truck traveling at 15 MPH, 20 MPH, 25 MPH, 30 MPH, 35 MPH, 40 MPH and 45 MPH were measured. The tests were conducted on Dawson Road in North Pole (Figures B1-B6) which had not had any form of dust control within the past year. For comparison, the dust concentration generated by the same pickup traveling at 25 MPH and 35 MPH were also measured on an adjacent road (Sharon Rd.) which had been treated with Durasoil the previous summer (Figures B-7 & B-8).
The test vehicle was a 2005 Ford-150 pickup. The maximum and average (1 minute) PM-10 were measured using a handheld DustTrak II Model 8532 taken 10’ and 12’ from the center of the vehicle. The DustTrak II was approximately 3 feet from the ground surface. The PM-10 measurements are summarized in Table 1.
Figure A-1 – Vehicle Speed vs. Maximum PM10 at 12’
Figure #A-1 – 15 MPH (Max. PM10 = 6.3; Avg. PM 10 = .7)
Figure #A-2 – 25 MPH (Max. PM10 = 17.0; Avg. PM 10 = 2.3)
Figure #A-3 – 30 MPH (Max. PM10 =21.2; Avg. PM 10 = 4.0)
Figure #A-4 – 35 MPH (Max. PM10 = 24.0; Avg. PM 10 = 4.2)
Figure #A-5 – 40 MPH (Max. PM10 = 36.2; Avg. PM 10 = 5.0)
Figure #A-6 – 45 MPH (Max. PM10 = 51.6; Avg. PM 10 = 7.4)
Figure #A-7 – Max. PM10 = .09; Avg. PM 10 =.01 (25 MPH)
Figure #A-8 – 35 MPH – Max. PM10 =.03; Avg. PM 10 = .01
Table A-1 – Summary of PM-10 Measurements
Appendix B
Watering for Dust Control
The Alaska DOT/PF pays $20 per 1,000 gal for watering as a Contingent Sum Item. For Contingent Sum Items, the price is set by the Alaska DOOT/PF prior to bidding. The Alaska DOT/PF directs the Contractor on when and how often to apply water based on weather and traffic conditions.
The following pictures illustrate that for a relatively hot (70 degrees) dry day, the road needed to be watered every 20-25 minutes to maintain acceptable visibility for traffic safety. To illustrate the differences in visibility, a sign was placed at 500’ (sight distance for 55 MPH), Type II barricade was placed at 350’ (sight distance for 45 MPH) and a Type II barricade was placed at 200’ (sight distance for 30 MPH). The speed of the trucks were not measured, but it is assumed that all of the trucks in the photos were traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 MPH.
Figure #B-1 – Taken shortly after watering
Figure #B-2 – Six minutes after watering
Figure #B-3 – 9 minutes after watering
Figure #B-4 – 17 minutes after watering
Figure #B-5 – 21 minutes after watering
Figure #B-6 – 24 minutes after watering
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®,
Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil® are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LLC.
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®,
Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil® are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LLC.