The Most Practical Dust Control For Gravel Roads

Construction and mining sites often have trouble with heavy dust pollution on their roads. The cause of this is the fact that many of these roads are poorly-laid gravel, and the ground is easily disturbed due to the heavy weight of vehicles passing over them. The movement of dust into the atmosphere creates two problems. Firstly, it causes significant soil loss from the area around the road, meaning that the natural soil which should help to prevent flooding and run-off is now moveable, and can flow into nearby streams. Secondly, the dust which moves into the air becomes a pollutant, and can become annoying for people living in nearby towns and villages. There has been a noted increase in ill health connected to dust movement near gravel roads. Companies and contractors working on these sites are therefore now obliged to take dust control measures for gravel roads.  

Reduce the impact of vehicles

One of the easiest dust control methods advocated by specialists is to reduce the impact of vehicles on the road. This can be as simple as making the road more winding in order to reduce the speed that vans and trucks are travelling at, or it could be more intensive, such as cutting back on the number of vehicles which use the road. Improving the general road design can also be very useful in cutting back on the amount of gravel and dust that is lost. Good road drainage is one of the best ways to ensure that soil doesn't keep moving into the air. 

 Palliative reductions

There are also direct steps that you can take in order to reduce the impact of vehicles on the road. This includes watering the road, either with simple H2O, or with a powerful mix of detergents and water that prevents soil from coming into the air, and also stops the water from evaporating too quickly. By using the combined strength of chemicals and water the construction dust control products are able to limit the movement of dust, preventing pollution and also ensuring that the soil isn't shifting as lorries and machines drive over it. Using a sulfonate can also be the best way to 'glue' gravel together, which can then help to make the road more stable, allowing traffic to pass more effectively over the road without contributing to the movement of soil.