Base Stabilization Road Construction Guide

Varying dry and wet spots in Stabilized Base

• Check water and/or bituminous stabilizing agent application systems
• Check for plugged spray bars/nozzles
• Adjust application rates if caused by gradation changes, in-place stabilization only

Uneven Distribution of Dry Stabilizing Agent

• Apply dry stabilizing agents/additives with calibrated bulk spreader
• Ensure dry stabilizing agent is evenly spread across width of spreading equipment
• Check for plugged valves/vanes on bulk spreader

Stabilized base stays spongy and/or will not densify

• Reestablish control strip and/or density rolling pattern
• If steel wheel rollers are sealing the surface and causing moisture retention, use a heavy pneumatic tire roller or padfoot roller for the breakdown and compaction rolling
• If excess moisture is in the mix, revise stabilizing agent and water as necessary
• Check for subgrade instability

Isolated areas of minor raveling or scuffing

• Sweep and monitor. Determine if fog sealing or re-fog sealing is necessary to protect.
• Keep traffic off stabilized base until properly cured

Isolated areas of major raveling, scuffing or tearing

• Maintain better traffic restrictions in areas that are not cured. Sweep and monitor. Determine if fog sealing or re-fog sealing is necessary to protect.
• Repair deep damaged areas with stabilized base material or asphalt mixture (cold mix, recycled mix, WMA, or HMA) prior to application of surface course.

Large scale areas of raveling, scuffing or tearing in straight traffic areas

• Remove and replace with stabilized material or repair with asphalt mixture (cold mix, recycled mix, WMA, or HMA)

Dimpling due to parked vehicles or equipment

• Tack and fill with asphalt mixture (cold mix, recycled mix, WMA, or HMA) prior to surface course

Permanent deformation within wheel path areas due to secondary compaction by traffic

• Keep traffic off stabilized base until sufficiently cured.
• After initial cure limit traffic to light vehicles
• Use motor grader to smooth surface
• Repair with leveling course prior to application of wearing surface

Permanent deformation and shoving due to unstable mix

• Investigate pavement structure in conjunction with mix design lab. Depending on investigation, repair affected areas with stabilized base mix or asphalt mixture (cold mix, recycled mix, WMA, or HMA).