Page 24 - Jan/Feb 2016 Vol.33 No.6
P. 24
Athens from page 23 to a surface at less than one-third the cost cities have contracted out Liquid Road ap-
of paving. If we only get five years out of plications and have found that they do not
are stained by dirt or grease as well as in- the surface, we will break even. So time will hold up well under heavy traffic and turn-
tersections and steep hills with a light cold tell if we have the Holy Grail or not. This ing movements, or they don’t fare well with
applied tack coat to ensure a good bond. year Athens diverted less than 15 percent a metal snow plow. We know that rubber
of their paving budget to Liquid Road, and tipped plows seem to have no impact. I be-
Lesson 5 - Payback completed surfacing 3.67 miles of roads, lieve the worst case scenario is that Athens
which almost quadrupled the surface area has paid back the initial capital investment
The idea of Liquid Road is that it will Athens would have treated with the same in the first to second season and delayed
prolong the life of the road at least 10 years. amount of funds if paved. paving at least 5 years and possibly 10
Our initial results are looking good, but years. We have also found that the process
they are only 2 years old. We do know that Liquid Road also aids in CO2 reduc- of preparing road sites has given us new
the cost of putting down Liquid Road is tions. Athens purchased their Spray/Squee- tools, better inspections, and better roads
estimated to be $1.75 per square yard and gee Machine with a Green Development by forcing crews to look at roads between
we did it this year at $1.30 per square yard. Grant. See chart below for cost of applica- 10 and 20 years old with a magnifying
Outside contractors charge about $3 per tion compared with CO2 reductions over glass. We find problems sooner and make
square yard to install and a 1-inch overlay traditional surfacing. Street Maintenance more proactive than
would cost about $5 per square yard. It ever before.
appears we are adding half of the life back The Holy Grail might have been found in
Athens or might not, time will tell. Other
Treatment Contract Price Contractor Cost Self-Applied Price Self-Applied Current CO2
per Square Yard per mile per Square Yard Price per Mile Reduction*
Life Extension
Guard Top 0.40 $5,700 2,535 gallons
5.00
PMM Slurry Seal 1.85 $26,048 12.00 1.00 $14,080 51,806
3.00
Liquid Road 3.50 $49,280 20.00 1.75 $24,640 97,137
0.25 $3,520 33,787
Aspen Sealer 0.45 $6,336 not applicable
1.5 inch resurface 7.79 $109,665 0
Mile assumes 24-foot width *Based on average of 8 lane miles or 4 miles of paving in lbs.
24 TPW January/February 2016
of paving. If we only get five years out of plications and have found that they do not
are stained by dirt or grease as well as in- the surface, we will break even. So time will hold up well under heavy traffic and turn-
tersections and steep hills with a light cold tell if we have the Holy Grail or not. This ing movements, or they don’t fare well with
applied tack coat to ensure a good bond. year Athens diverted less than 15 percent a metal snow plow. We know that rubber
of their paving budget to Liquid Road, and tipped plows seem to have no impact. I be-
Lesson 5 - Payback completed surfacing 3.67 miles of roads, lieve the worst case scenario is that Athens
which almost quadrupled the surface area has paid back the initial capital investment
The idea of Liquid Road is that it will Athens would have treated with the same in the first to second season and delayed
prolong the life of the road at least 10 years. amount of funds if paved. paving at least 5 years and possibly 10
Our initial results are looking good, but years. We have also found that the process
they are only 2 years old. We do know that Liquid Road also aids in CO2 reduc- of preparing road sites has given us new
the cost of putting down Liquid Road is tions. Athens purchased their Spray/Squee- tools, better inspections, and better roads
estimated to be $1.75 per square yard and gee Machine with a Green Development by forcing crews to look at roads between
we did it this year at $1.30 per square yard. Grant. See chart below for cost of applica- 10 and 20 years old with a magnifying
Outside contractors charge about $3 per tion compared with CO2 reductions over glass. We find problems sooner and make
square yard to install and a 1-inch overlay traditional surfacing. Street Maintenance more proactive than
would cost about $5 per square yard. It ever before.
appears we are adding half of the life back The Holy Grail might have been found in
Athens or might not, time will tell. Other
Treatment Contract Price Contractor Cost Self-Applied Price Self-Applied Current CO2
per Square Yard per mile per Square Yard Price per Mile Reduction*
Life Extension
Guard Top 0.40 $5,700 2,535 gallons
5.00
PMM Slurry Seal 1.85 $26,048 12.00 1.00 $14,080 51,806
3.00
Liquid Road 3.50 $49,280 20.00 1.75 $24,640 97,137
0.25 $3,520 33,787
Aspen Sealer 0.45 $6,336 not applicable
1.5 inch resurface 7.79 $109,665 0
Mile assumes 24-foot width *Based on average of 8 lane miles or 4 miles of paving in lbs.
24 TPW January/February 2016
