TURN WET, UNWORKABLE SOIL INTO WORKABLE GROUND
Excess moisture in clay-bearing soils can make a roadbed or construction site extremely difficult to work. Proper compaction may become nearly impossible. TerraZyme helps release moisture held within and around the clay particles and soil structure. Once released, this moisture can be removed through drainage and evaporation. TerraZyme can also be effective for drying wet soils with much lower clay content.
Standing water must first be drained from the work area. L&Q has developed field methods for draining and aerating saturated roadbeds before treatment. TerraZyme is then worked into the soil to promote drying and prepare the material for grading and compaction. Under typical conditions, treated soil can generally be brought to a workable condition within 24–48 hours. Actual drying time will vary with soil composition, moisture level, aeration, temperature, sunlight, and weather conditions.
Standing water must first be drained from the work area. L&Q has developed field methods for draining and aerating saturated roadbeds before treatment. TerraZyme is then worked into the soil to promote drying and prepare the material for grading and compaction. Under typical conditions, treated soil can generally be brought to a workable condition within 24–48 hours. Actual drying time will vary with soil composition, moisture level, aeration, temperature, sunlight, and weather conditions.
DRAIN FIRST, THEN CONDITION THE SOIL
TerraZyme works within the soil—not in standing water. Before treatment begins, standing water is drained from the work area. L&Q uses narrow Trench Wheels mounted on an ATV or tractor to cut drainage channels through wet areas and provide a path for water to move off the roadbed or construction surface.
Once drained, the soil is scarified to expose as much soil surface as possible. The TerraZyme solution is then applied and thoroughly mixed into the loosened soil. Continued drainage and exposure to air allow released moisture to drain away or evaporate, drying the treated soil to the moisture condition needed for grading and compaction.
Once drained, the soil is scarified to expose as much soil surface as possible. The TerraZyme solution is then applied and thoroughly mixed into the loosened soil. Continued drainage and exposure to air allow released moisture to drain away or evaporate, drying the treated soil to the moisture condition needed for grading and compaction.
MORE THAN DRYING — TERRAZYME STABILIZES SOIL
TerraZyme's value does not end when wet soil becomes workable. In soils with sufficient clay content, TerraZyme can also improve compaction, increase soil strength, reduce permeability, and help create a dense, stable roadbed using the soil already on site.
This makes TerraZyme particularly valuable for road construction and sub-base improvement. Properly conditioned local soils can often be shaped and compacted into a stronger structural layer, potentially reducing the amount of imported aggregate required and lowering both construction and long-term maintenance costs.
This makes TerraZyme particularly valuable for road construction and sub-base improvement. Properly conditioned local soils can often be shaped and compacted into a stronger structural layer, potentially reducing the amount of imported aggregate required and lowering both construction and long-term maintenance costs.
PROVEN ROAD-STABILIZATION PERFORMANCE
TerraZyme has been used internationally for decades to improve the construction and performance of unpaved roads and road sub-bases. By improving the compaction and stability of suitable clay-bearing soils, TerraZyme can help contractors make better use of existing on-site material while reducing dependence on imported aggregate.
The reports below provide supporting documentation for the field performance, laboratory testing, and project results summarized above.
- PENNDOT — EIGHT WINTERS OF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE — A TerraZyme-treated section of Pennsylvania SR-2017 performed satisfactorily through eight winters, leading PennDOT to recommend the treatment for provisional use.
- BIA — STRONGER ROADBASE, LOWER CONSTRUCTION COST — A Bureau of Indian Affairs road project on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation reported substantially increased CBR values in stabilized layers while reducing required aggregate. The project report attributed $1 million in cost savings and a three-month reduction in construction time to the reconditioning and stabilization approach.
- BYU — 65.6% LABORATORY CBR — A Brigham Young University laboratory evaluation reported CBR increasing from 28.0% untreated to 65.6% three weeks after TerraZyme treatment.
The reports below provide supporting documentation for the field performance, laboratory testing, and project results summarized above.
| penn_dot_road_report.pdf |
| montana_-_bureau_of_indian_affairs_report[1].pdf |
The Brigham Young University evaluation is cited in the Bureau of Indian Affairs project report; see the BIA report above (Page 13 of 29) for the project findings and supporting technical references.
A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO SOIL REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
Where site soils are suitable, TerraZyme can condition and stabilize the material already in place, reducing the need to excavate, haul away and replace existing soil. Fewer truckloads of imported aggregate can mean lower construction costs, shorter project schedules and less environmental impact.
HAVE A WET-SOIL OR ROAD-STABILIZATION PROBLEM?
Tell us about the soil, moisture conditions, project requirements and the equipment available on site. L&Q can help determine whether TerraZyme is appropriate and recommend a practical treatment approach for drying, conditioning and stabilizing the soil.