The service life of highways in
Kazakhstan will increase several times due to the new construction technology
and using geotextiles. The material is used as the lowest layer in the
construction of transport routes. As stated by scientists at the Kazakhstan
Road Research Institute, it prevents groundwater accumulation and soil erosion.
It bears noting that geotextile does not rot and is resistant to chemicals. Its
properties do not deteriorate at high and low temperatures. And most
importantly, the material prevents rutting, which means that pavement on the
highways will not deteriorate. The new construction technology requires a small
amount of rubble and sand, which allows to significantly reduce the cost of
highway construction. Now the new method with the use of geotextile is applied
for pavement laying on the test section of the Konayev-Kurty highway. It should
be noted that the new method, like the previous ones, first of all, requires
strict observance of the entire process, according to experts.
“The asphalt pavement may not
follow some technologies, such as laying temperature, construction load, and
the number of rollers and passes. So, a technical supervision company must carefully
monitor all this. Owner’s inspectors have to be present on the road all the
time and check for all indicators, from the production of mixtures to its
delivery. That’s when we will have good roads. Even if we use good material,
which shows great results, but the laying technology fails, the asphalt will no
longer be suitable,” said Galiya Assanova, spokesperson for the Kazakhstan Road
Research Institute.
This is not the only research by
Kazakh scientists. Now the Kazakhstan Road Research Institute specialists are
studying the possibilities of using sulfur in road construction. According to
them, this chemical element will allow to solve, for example, the construction problems
of highways in the western regions of the country. Scientists have developed
sulfur rubble which is more durable and stronger than conventional materials
due to the interaction of sea shell rock and sulfur. The new material will slow
down the destruction of highways.
Another development of domestic experts is a nano additive to bitumen.
Carbon powder strengthens the binding ability of the material and improves its
quality. The institute experts note that these products will be particularly
useful in the country’s sharply continental climate.