Pavements explained. (with Jen's help, of course) -- Racepics.net's Heads Up Racing Association

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Date Posted: 19:36:48 07/08/03 Tue
Author: Frenchman
Subject: Pavements explained. (with Jen's help, of course)
In reply to: EDDIE 's message, "FRENCHY...HOW BOUT PULLING SOME STRINGS TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO OVERLAY....BLUESTANG WHAT BOUT THEM LIGHTS FOR NITE RACING OUT THERE" on 23:01:25 07/07/03 Mon

What is underneath the wearing course is what counts. La as well as other southern Mississippi River Valley states suffer from the same dilemna. All roads or in this case, dragstrips are built over existing ground consisting of montmorillonite clays. These materials have outstanding compressive strength when dry, buy outstandingly low compressive strengths when wet.
The Eunice facility is built over this stereotypical soil condition. It seems that an attempt at elevating it was done, but the material under it is predominantly a clay, that bad actor that shrinks and swells with moisture.
The "hole" that everybody speaks of is a result of the sub-base "failing" It is not going to be rectified by a simple 2" overlay. That would increase its structure number, but not enough. It would be a "band-aid" repair from a civil engineering view. Deeper overlays have much better structure numbers but it's very expensive to attain. You see, it's all the function of the dollar.
It would be cost prohibitive to undercut (say 2-3 ft) and haul in expensive embankment material (dirt that is low on the plasticity index) This however might be the best option "if" such embankment material even exists in this prairie area. I don't remember any non-plastic embankment existing in this locale as we've built highways in this area in the past.
Now let's talk about the cheap way. First, mill the existing asphaltic concrete (you call it blacktop) down to whatever depth, then overlay w/ the equivalent thickness mat of new asphaltic concrete. This costs big money folks. The closest asphalt lay-down operation would be Laddie James' outfit, Prairie Construction Co. They are located in Opelousas by the Yambilee Club, not more than 10 miles away. There are many hidden costs that the laymen doesn't realize. First, he'll have a mobilization charge (hauling of eqt), then the cost of the milling, by the sq yard or ton. Then the actual laydown.
Oh, it won't take him long to do. It's the timing, you see, that can make it costly. He would have to energize his plant costing several thousand dollars just to make the mix. The mobilization will run several thousand dollars and the laydown is expensive.
So what to do? Simply wait for a state funded project to happen somewhere close to the dragstrip. Then while they are actively working nearby, get him to quote a price for the milling and overlay. That's the most cost-effective way to get it done. With hwy 190 passing adjacent to the property, I recommend being patient. Before long the movement under the portland-cement concrete paving will warrant the DOTD to break it w/ hammers (to be used as a basecourse) and then overlay the broken concrete w/ (2) mats of hot-mixed asphaltic concrete; (1) binder course and (1) wearing course. As he, the contractor, is laying the wearing course, hire him to overlay the track.
Patience will get it done, not all of the crying and associated ill-informed "RANTS"
I really feel that if Art needs guidance, he'll contact me. But I am not going to tell another business owner how to run his business; This is simple courtesy & professionalism.
My "pulling of Jen's chain" is just my way of off-gassing the stress that my real job dictates. (he he he)

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Replies:

frenchy -- eddie, 20:55:05 07/08/03 Tue
- track repair, track repair -- Frenchman, 14:45:18 07/09/03 Wed
frenchy -- eddie, 21:07:31 07/08/03 Tue