DEERFOOT TRAIL HIGHWAY
Over the past several decades, the Western Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta has earned the unenviable nickname of being “The Pothole Capital of the World”. In recent times, the city and it’s municipal services have had an ongoing battle with the impact of the harsh climate on their road systems which are constantly undergoing costly maintenance and repairs, especially the potholes.
The roads are managed by ministry of Transport for Alberta who are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to repair potholes and in 2017, Romex D4000 HR was reviewed and approved by the ministry of transport. Following the approval, a pilot project along a stretch of the Deerfoot Trail highway on the outskirts of Calgary was carried out in spring of 2018.
The installations were completed in combination with a work crew from Carmacks, who actively track and monitor each repair to determine which products are successful in Alberta’s winter climate.
PRODUCT SELECTION
D4000 HR is Romex’s resin bound pothole repair mortar for the toughest conditions. The strength, durability, and ability to resist frost as well as being able to be installed in -10 C were the reasons that this product was selected.
PRODUCT LOCATION
PROJECT NEEDS
- Challenges with frost due to the number of freeze/ thaw cycles (Chinooks)
- Easy to use and fast setting product to re-open the road quickly
- Meet the durability requirements for highways in Alberta (heavy traffic load)
- Salt resistance due to heavy salting on Alberta’s roads in winter
PROJECT SOLUTION
The range of benefits the D4000 HR Repair mortar brings to this project were highlighted not only in the installation but how it has withstood the test of time for years thereafter. The roads department were able to install the product at night in cold conditions and quickly re-open the highway lane after only two hours. The repairs have been able to withstand the huge temperature fluctuations seen in Alberta as well as the vast salting that takes place in winter to keep the roads clear. High durability and ease of installation are essential for roads crew and one-time applications mean that patrons of the highways don’t need to be inconvenienced by tire damage or dangerous roads as well as seeing their hard-earned tax dollars spent on repairing the same potholes multiple times with products that can’t survive the conditions and surface loading.
Following a review of the patching during both spring 2019 (one year after install) and the middle of 2021 (over 3 years after install), the pilot project showed that the repairs had remained entirely intact and withstood all that the heavy traffic loads and harsh winter conditions had thrown at it. The product’s performance to date is a strong testament to the quality and durability of the ROMEX D4000 HR product.
D4000 HR
Pothole repair to highway roads
Deerfoot Trail Highway, Calgary, Alberta
2018
Alberta Ministry of Transport
Commercial
