Double surface treatment - advantageous solution for gravel paths

In recent years, in many places in Latvia and especially Latgale gravel roads, double surface treatment is carried out, which provides comfort to drivers in driving conditions, while local people don't have to live in the dust cloud. In Latgale, double surface treatment has already been performed on gravel roads over 160 kilometres, of which around 100 kilometres are arranged directly in Rezekne municipality.

“Double surface treatment means that gravel material is placed on the gravel road and the surface treatment with a bituminous mixture is carried out by creating a black blanket,” says Andris Kishchenko, head of the Rēzekne division of VAS “Latvian Road Operator”. “Although such treatment is not equivalent to asphalt concrete cover, however, at low intensity traffic such as village centres or elsewhere where economic activity is carried out, such cover is very suitable. In addition, unlike gravel cover, which often has to be aligned with the grader, after the double surface treatment, the road is much more convenient and convenient. '

For the first time in Rezekne's municipality, the double surface treatment technology was used more than eight years ago for four kilometres along the Razna Lake, up to Mākoņkalna parish for Lipušku village. Initially, the double surface treatment was carried out on an experimental basis to verify that the intensity of the road use and the weather conditions are appropriate. The time test has been passed and, when viewing the paths, it can be ascertained that the method has justified itself both financially and in terms of quality.

“The double surface treatment of gravel roads is highly positive,” says the Chairman OF the Rēzekne District Council Monvīds Švarcs. “First, the quality of roads is significantly improved — no dust, the road is flat, smooth and well-driven. Secondly, the surface treated serves long-term, well-maintained loads of heavy-weight vehicles. Thirdly, both repair and maintenance are also justified. This is a very good and economical alternative to asphalt cover. We have calculated that if an asphalt cover should be paid for the same money, only a tenth of what has been performed at the moment could be done in the municipality of Rezekne. If it is necessary to make a choice of ten kilometres of asphalt or 100 kilometres with double surface treatment, the answer is unambiguous“ yes ”for double surface treatment. '

It is best to tell people living in these sections of the road about the effectiveness of the projects they realize. They unanimously recognise that not only the quality of life but also the business environment have improved significantly. “The roads are the gold of the tourist company,” says Jānis Macans from Nagļu parish, owner of the holiday house “fishermen”, “once there were tourists who, knowing that eight kilometres would have to go through a landed gravel road, even refused to go to us. The number of visitors has increased significantly since the track. '

"As we are a transport company, quality roads are very important for us,“ says ZS 'inventories' accountant Dace Stikāne. As the most important factors given by the eleven-kilometres of Nagļu parish, she mentions the economy of the time spent on the road, the improvement in driving comfort, and the most important, the increase in safety on the road, since the visibility of the dusty gravel road had been very poor in the past. Another important improvement is the owner of Lendžu parish ZS “cherry” Dmitry Pavlov: “grow fruit and vegetables, so in the course of the season ten kilometres of Rēzekne can go even through several times a day. Before the road was arranged, the car had to be repaired almost every month. '

Three years ago, the double surface treatment was also carried out on the gravel road “Vonogova – Rogovka” IN Nautrēnu parish. “Till then dust could be eaten,” says Dainis Ranāns, owner of ZS “Dainas”. Although his home is approximately 200 metres off the road, there was no road dust. “At other times, when there was no wind, the dust was just like a mist in the courtyard.” “It is very good that dust is no longer in the house,” also says THE Director of the Gaigalavas primary school, Ināra Usis, who has a rural home in the parish OF the renovated road Gaigalavas. “In winter, the road is now slippery, but overall the conditions have improved significantly, which we are very grateful for.”

The municipality of Rezekne is interested in the continuation of the double surface treatment for gravel roads. A number of road sections have remained in the municipality, which would require the cover of “black” cover, thus improving the intensity of business and tourism, as well as connecting populated areas with schools and parish centres, for example in stages Lendži – Bērzgale, Stoļerova – Kaunata, Ilzeskalns – Nautrēni and elsewhere. When selecting paths to be processed, the road load and socio-economic rationale are first assessed, that is to say how much transport is carried out to educational institutions, jobs, parish centre and the city of Rezekne. This principle was developed further during the Rēzekne District Council and is also used now.

The improvement of road cover is expected by residents of Bērzgales parish. As the owner of THE ZS “Toys” owner Ilgonis Pekšs knows, the gravel road along his property was last repaired in the early 1980 s. “The condition of the road is so bad that a couple of days after they arrive, the whole road is in the same“ treasure. ”If, when driving with four wheels, at least dust is not broken, it is even more difficult for cyclists.“ I could ride the wheel to the church and the parish center, but we can't walk along the way, all the bones hurry, ”says the lady of Liepins, the pensioner Helen Peka.

“Gravel road coverings are our total pain,” says Andris Kishchenko, head of the VAS “Latvian Road Operator”. “Asphalt concrete cover on all gravel roads is too expensive, so it would be more advantageous to do the double surface treatment of gravel roads.” To date, the funding for the application of the Black Sea was taken from the “Latgale programme”. In the meantime, the funds for further improvement of gravel roads are not foreseen in the programme, but both citizens and road users hope that funding will be found, as quality roads are a basic consideration for the development of entrepreneurship and the creation of new jobs in rural areas.

Madara Laksa,
Public relations specialist of the municipality of Rezekne