Have you ever been stuck behind a street cleaner on a back road and wondered why it’s so important for roads that few people see be dust-free? Dust control on the highways and even the lonely back roads is more important than you ever imagined!
Saving Money
When roads get dusty, they start to degrade. The dust works like sandpaper to erode the top layers, and eventually loosens the aggregate material. This means higher maintenance and repair of potholes.
Driver Safety
Dust decreases visibility, which is always a bad thing for drivers. Once the road starts to degrade, loose gravel can fly up and hit windshields, causing damage to the vehicle and sometimes accidents by startled drivers.
Healthy Locals
Excess dust is constantly stirred up and will drift into local homes and businesses, which can increase respiratory complications.
Land reclamation specialists will use calcium chloride to pull moisture from the air and keep the roads dust-free under even the harshest summer conditions. The mixture binds to the aggregate, keeping it together longer and thus requiring less maintenance. Who knew just how much we depended on road cleaners for our economy, safety, and health?
Main photo by: Gordon McDowell





