Construction Equipment for Paving

Construction equipment for paving can be used for new roads or to repair damaged roads.

Equipment used in the construction of roads can vary depending on whether it is new road construction, road replacement or just road repairs. Construction equipment used for paving is similar depending on whether it is concrete paving or asphalt paving. Most highway construction is done with concrete paving equipment and most rural roads utilize asphalt paving equipment.

Earth Rammer and Soil Compactors

An earth rammer prepares the ground or subbase roads to make the foundation of the road sturdy and level. It can be used for both a lime and dirt mix for the subbase or stone and stone dust mix for the subbase depending on which subbase mix is chosen to construct the roadway. This is one of the first pieces of construction equipment used for paving after the road has been cut out using other ground-moving equipment. A soil compactor is used on larger road construction projects, such as highways, where long stretches of road need the soil compacted. It is motorized and run by an operator. The front roller of the compactor measures anywhere from 54 inches to 84 inches.

Paving Equipment

Paving a road is done in layers starting with just below ground level, then with gravel. A middle layer is installed with a concrete or asphalt paver, which is attached to either a dump truck filled with asphalt or a concrete truck depending on the mixture chosen. This asphalt or concrete paver spreads the larger, more flexible middle layer out and is packed down. This aspalt and concrete paver is also used to put the top coat onto the road surface.

Rollers

Once the asphalt is put down, no matter whether it is the flexible layer or the top coat, the material is compacted by means of a roller machine, which is used to press the asphalt down into place. Rollers are used to flatten out the road and are driven by qualified drivers. Rollers can be double-drum asphalt rollers, combination rollers or rubber tire rollers. Each type of construction equipment for compacting the road is determined by the mixture used to build the road, which can be reinforced concrete, hot asphalt or an asphalt rock mixture.

References

• Mike Staub Equipment, Inc.
• Machines and Equipment: Road Construction Equipment
• Staub Equipment: Asphalt Paving Equipment
• Staub Equipment: Compaction Equipment
• India Mart: Macon Paving Equipment

Resources

• ASTM: Road Standards and Paving Standards