This allows avoidance zones to be integrated into the designs, keeping equipment operators from contacting gas, water and sewer lines. “It adds a whole new dimension to both job safety and job productivity,” says Ringwelski, “because if you know where something is, you can more confidently move the dirt.

“If you’ve got buildings around, the last thing contractors want to do is cut lines,” he says, “and the last thing they want to do is spend a lot of time digging holes and excavating.”

Hence, doing it right the first time.v

A “stabilizing force” for equipment fleets?

The use of road reclaimers/soil stabilizers in the base preparation process is a trend expected to not only remain, but grow in use as the long-term performance of roads built on these bases is documented.

Reclaimers/stabilizers as made by such leading road-building equipment manufacturers as Terex, Roadtec, Wirtgen and Caterpillar allow a greater use of in-situ soils during an era of increased cost and (in some regions) scarcity of virgin aggregate. To improve their characteristics in order to carry their future loads, the soils are enhanced with chemical or mechanical additives.

From an equipment perspective, could the result be increased market and perhaps even a mainstream role for a machine type traditionally considered niche? Would you add a road reclaimer to your fleet? These are management questions worth pondering, and ones we’d love to get your input on. Please e-mail your thoughts to mike.anderson@rrpub.com or give us a call at (205) 248-1310.