Heavy Equipment Rentals-What You Should Know

Heavy Equipment Rentals-What You Should Know

3 Road Dust Control Options And Their Benefits

by Kristina Burton

Controlling the dust on a gravel or dirt road is vital in ensuring that it is safe to travel on. The lack of dust on the road will allow drivers to have maximum visibility. Three road dust control options to consider are paving, windbreaks, and palliatives.


One of the most effective means of suppressing road dust is to improve the road. An unimproved road is always going to produce quite a bit of dust, but simply covering it with asphalt or concrete paving can eliminate the vast majority of the dust. In addition to eliminating the dust, paving the road can provide a whole host of other benefits, such as making the road more comfortable to drive on. 

Gravel is also a great option if you do not want to have to spend a lot of money on concrete or asphalt paving. While gravel will not eliminate the dust entirely, it will greatly reduce the amount of dust in the air. Sure, this option doesn't do much beyond cutting down on the dust, but it is much cheaper and less time-consuming to install than other paving options.


Another great method for reducing the amount of road dust is to limit the amount of wind that is reaching the dirt road's surface. While this option will not reduce the amount of dust produced by vehicles, it will prevent road dust from billowing up and spreading to the surrounding areas during a storm or a windy day. Some great options for a windbreak are wooden fencing, trees/bushes, and barricades along the sides of the road.


Finally, you can utilize a wide range of palliatives. Palliatives are chemicals and methods that will cause the dust particles to bind together, which makes it much harder for the dust to become airborne. 

One common type of palliative is emulsified asphalt. Emulsified asphalt will cover your gravel or dirt road with a very thin layer of asphalt. However, this type of palliative can be harmful to the environment when rain washes it into a waterway.

Now, there are a few organic and synthetic options that will allow you to deal with the dust without harming the environment, such as lignosulfonates. This type of palliative will not cause any damage to waterways, and is perfect for areas with fine dust. For example, you will want to consider this type of palliative if you live in an area with a lot of clay in your soil.

Speak to a road dust suppression specialist, such as GMCO Corporation, to discuss the many options available to you. By using palliatives, paving, or windbreaks, you can easily reduce the amount of dust produced by roads and parking areas.


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Heavy Equipment Rentals-What You Should Know
