Fred Corrigan
Special to the Express
Route 106 in Halifax was treated to a facelift last week when a process “Hot-In-Place” asphalt recycling was used. Hot In-Place is an eco-friendly asphalt paving method.
The surface recycling is done by “ovens” heating the existing road surface up to 350 degrees, then scarifying teeth dig into the existing road to a specific depth. The asphalt is then combined with a rejuvenating polymer oil applied to the asphalt with recycling agents, heated and the hot mess is recompacted. Next a paving screed makes the roadway flat again and a new finish layer is applied and a roller compacts the asphalt. The new surface is left to cure for about a week .then the final surface layer can be applied.
This Hot In-Place process eliminates the need to scarify and haul away the asphalt to be recycled in another area and saves on the use of oil. The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement began in the 1970s in response to the oil embargo.
The pictures are of a section of route 106 east of route 36 and is complete to the Kingston line.