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Granella® improves safety on mountain roads

Designing, building and maintaining the efficiency of mountain roads has always been a difficult task given the various geological problems due to the morphology of the area in which a road develops. This is the case of the road that we want to tell you about today.

A green product for mountain roads

Designing, building and maintaining the efficiency of mountain roads has always been a difficult task given the various geological problems due to the morphology of the area in which a road develops. A mountain road is characterized by steep gradients and a variety of terrains that are crossed in a narrow space. The action of atmospheric agents is one of the factors that leads to erosion of the road surface and requires continuous maintenance work.

This is the case of the road that we want to tell you about today. It is located on the eastern hills of Friuli, a territory known for the quality of its wines, and more precisely Canebola, a small village inhabited by about fifty people. To reach this village, lying at an altitude of almost 700 metres above sea level, there is a road that branches off from the municipality of Faedis and winds its way up the hills for several kilometres.

We are now in an area of woodland and the road we have just taken is the main way to reach Faedis, the reference town for the inhabitants of Canebola. The road is therefore in a critical environment, subject to erosion by atmospheric events. In addition, several landslides and collapses along the roadway had further compromised the road surface. The Protezione Civile Friuli Venezia Giulia (the Friuli Venezia Giulia Civil Protection Department) therefore requested resurfacing work to be carried out, which was commissioned to Slurry.

Slurry, specialized in the road construction sector, is in constant pursuit of innovative technologies to create and develop products that are guaranteed to be eco-friendly, functional and meet high safety standards.

pavimentazione strade di montagna pavimentazione strade di montagna

Granella® quality and benefits

These are the reasons behind the choice of using Granella® for the resurfacing work. During the execution of the works, the road surface was treated to improve its waterproofing system, so as to cover it and protect it from adverse weather conditions. In addition, the roughness was improved to promote adhesion and thereby ensuring good drainage of surface water, reducing the risk of aquaplaning and offering good ice formation resistance. Still on the safety front, in terms of vehicle grip and control in all conditions, Granella® guarantees a value of at least 10 Side Adhesion Coefficient points more than a similar conglomerate made with the use of natural aggregates (basalts, porphyry and diabase), thanks to its high polished stone value (PSV).

prodotto pavimentazione stradale

In the areas where there were cracks in the road, a double-layer system was implemented with the application of a first layer of modified bitumen emulsion and Granella® with a particle size of 4/8 and 8/14, and a second layer using a modified bitumen emulsion and Granella® with a particle size of 4/8.
The use of Granella® also improves the durability of the road surface as the deterioration of the mechanical properties (resistance to fragmentation) and functional properties (micro and macro-roughness) is greater, especially in critical environments such as mountain areas.
Granella® also offers greater reliability as an aggregate, because it provides a conglomerate with all the essential characteristics to guarantee the required functionality for the duration and expected load conditions.
The resurfacing work included single and double-layer treatment, depending on the conditions of the road surface. The single-layer system was implemented in sections where the existing surface had completely lost its roughness but had no cracks. In this case, a modified bitumen emulsion and Granella® with a particle size of 4/8 were used.

In conclusion, Granella® proves to be an effective engineering solution in reducing the maintenance and repair works required to road surfaces, promoting greater road safety and, at the same time, ensuring a higher performance of the road surface, as well as greater service and driving comfort.