Kazakhstan develops new technologies to extend service life of highways

Jul 27, 2023

The service life of highways inKazakhstan will increase several times due to the new construction technologyand using geotextiles. The material is used as the lowest layer in theconstruction of transport routes. As stated by scientists at the KazakhstanRoad Research Institute, it prevents groundwater accumulation and soil erosion.It bears noting that geotextile does not rot and is resistant to chemicals. Itsproperties do not deteriorate at high and low temperatures. And mostimportantly, the material prevents rutting, which means that pavement on thehighways will not deteriorate. The new construction technology requires a smallamount of rubble and sand, which allows to significantly reduce the cost ofhighway construction. Now the new method with the use of geotextile is appliedfor pavement laying on the test section of the Konayev-Kurty highway. It shouldbe noted that the new method, like the previous ones, first of all, requiresstrict observance of the entire process, according to experts.

“The asphalt pavement may notfollow some technologies, such as laying temperature, construction load, andthe number of rollers and passes. So, a technical supervision company must carefullymonitor all this. Owner’s inspectors have to be present on the road all thetime and check for all indicators, from the production of mixtures to itsdelivery. That’s when we will have good roads. Even if we use good material,which shows great results, but the laying technology fails, the asphalt will nolonger be suitable,” said Galiya Assanova, spokesperson for the Kazakhstan RoadResearch Institute.

This is not the only research byKazakh scientists. Now the Kazakhstan Road Research Institute specialists arestudying the possibilities of using sulfur in road construction. According tothem, this chemical element will allow to solve, for example, the construction problemsof highways in the western regions of the country. Scientists have developedsulfur rubble which is more durable and stronger than conventional materialsdue to the interaction of sea shell rock and sulfur. The new material will slowdown the destruction of highways. Another development of domestic experts is a nano additive to bitumen.Carbon powder strengthens the binding ability of the material and improves itsquality. The institute experts note that these products will be particularlyuseful in the country’s sharply continental climate.