HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION 101

Highways are vital to the economy and overall development of cities and towns. This being said, constructing a new highway requires a high degree of expertise, so here are some key facts you should be aware of when surfacing roads. Here’s what you should know.

Planning & Community Involvement

When planning design and construction of the infrastructure, involving the urban, rural and Indigenous communities and travelling public is critical no matter what the project is. This will ensure all the needs of the stakeholders for the design, construction, and end result are met and match into existing road/highway networks both currently and in the future.

Consider All of the Different Design and Material Options

Depending on material costs, traffic volumes, local climate, usage conditions, and soil characteristics, varying types of pavement structures and design materials may be considered to be used. These also could include performance graded asphalts, polymer modified asphalts, foamed asphalts, Portland cement concrete, and newly developed stabilizing agents. Each of these has its own characteristic properties and cost factors.

Road Safety Considerations

Different types of road and highway surfacing products have different skid-resistant properties in both wet and dry conditions. The climate and exposure are big factors in choosing design products. Some types of surfaces may require additional treatment, etching, or roughening to improve skid-resistance. At W.F. Botkin Construction Ltd. we have the know-how to ensure that any type of road surface will be as safe and skid-resistant as possible and ready to carry traffic.

Roads and Highways Make Life Easier

Having smooth roads and highways and technological advancements including GPS systems, weather monitoring, traffic classifiers, and weigh-on-the-go systems has greatly improved traffic management throughout Saskatchewan and Canada.

Much of highway construction and road maintenance depends upon factors specific to the region. This is why hiring an experienced local construction company is so important. With over 60 years of experience with projects ranging from industrial paving to highway construction, Regina’s W.F. Botkin Construction Ltd. is one of Saskatchewan’s best heavy contractors. Call us today to discuss your project.