Clay dust and road construction

[jmfox]

I have carved out a road in a side hill that has a good base but the soil disruption produced a lot of clay dust. Besides covering it with stone, is there a way to stabilize it (muddy when rainy and dusty when dry)? E.g. compaction, sun & rain.

jmf

 

[dangerdoc]

I have carved out a road in a side hill that has a good base but the soil disruption produced a lot of clay dust. Besides covering it with stone, is there a way to stabilize it (muddy when rainy and dusty when dry)? E.g. compaction, sun & rain.

jmf

lime will stabilize clay.

 

[EddieWalker]

I like clay, but have found that it really needs a good crown on it to be a decent road. With a nice crown to shed the water, it dries very quickly after a rain, and is drivable within hours on a warm day. If the water doesn't have a way to get off of the road and it just sits there, it will be impossible to drive on it for several days. Clay both holds and sheds water, it's just how it's shaped that determines what it will do for you.

Eddie

 

[jmfox]

That was my expectation. I don't have a crown but it is banked so it will shed water nicely. We normally don't have dust in the Northeast, but this year is different. I am hoping that the fine clay dust will thicken and bond a little after a rain. I eventually will cover it all with stone but during construction it is a good idea to let machinery and truck traffic pack it down.

jmf

I like clay, but have found that it really needs a good crown on it to be a decent road. With a nice crown to shed the water, it dries very quickly after a rain, and is drivable within hours on a warm day.

Eddie

 

[Soundguy]

If you have any road contractors doing work in your area, have them prime your road with either an asphalt emulsion or a tack coat.

after they spray it, then shovel some sand over it.. or allow to setup before use..

you will have a decent surface that will shed water, not wash too bad, and if the base is strong.. shouldn't rut up too much.

shouldn't be too spendy either...

soundguy

 

[ampsucker]

my experience is clay will be a decent subsurface but you need some white rock mixed in to help with erosion. i would get the clay cut (banked or graded to shed water) the way you want it, then put on some large clean rock such as 2-3" quarry run. it will be compacted into the wet clay by the heavy construction equipment and when it dries it will be rock hard cemented into the clay. this will do for the period during construction. then, when all the heavy equip is done, finish with a nice 1" dirty road base about 4" thick. you will be able to grade this top finish layer for years and just add some every now and then when needed without disturbing the clay/rock layer below.

just my .02.

amp

 

[RobJ]

You are getting a lot of clay dust because clay is a very fine particle. This will alsoo make it easy to erode. You need to cover it with something asap. Around here we have iron ore gravel mixed in with some of the clay. Makes the best roads around. The clay packs down, the gravel comes up, you can drive on it rain or shine. Holds up very well if the drainage is decent.